Please or to access all these features

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Private report: who owns it?

4 replies

TigerBreadAddict · 09/05/2018 17:46

If the LA had to commission a private assessment of a child, as part of EHC assessment, who 'owns' the report?
If, say, they have to commission a private SALT assessment because all NHS SALTS were off on long term sick (fictional example); who would you expect the private SALT to send the report to?

In my case the private practitioner has sent the report to the LA and is awaiting the "go ahead" from them to forward it to me.

I'm not happy. Surely the data contained within is confidential medical information relating to my child and so should be sent to the person with Parental Responsibility, and shared with the SEN team with consent. Also, frankly, I am suspicious of the relationship between this practitioner and the LA, as the LA refused to consider a practictioner without a waiting list and made us wait a few months for this assessment.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

OP posts:
TigerBreadAddict · 09/05/2018 17:47

I'm concerned that if the LA were unhappy, they could ask for redraft before it is shared with me

OP posts:
BlankTimes · 09/05/2018 18:37

In my case the private practitioner has sent the report to the LA and is awaiting the "go ahead" from them to forward it to me

Not for ECHP but for other reasons of concern, I've had private Ed Psych and SaLT reports done which I've paid for and they were sent to me with a copy that I "might" wish to give to school who could then implement the recommendations.

From that, I'd guess the person/body who commissions and pays for the report would have ownership of it.

I'm concerned that if the LA were unhappy, they could ask for redraft before it is shared with me
In your shoes, when you do get it, I'd ask for confirmation in writing of any parts of the report that had been redrafted with an explanation of why that happened and what it originally said.

Also, frankly, I am suspicious of the relationship between this practitioner and the LA, as the LA refused to consider a practictioner without a waiting list and made us wait a few months for this assessment

That would also concern me, particularly if the report had been rewritten and I'd be likely to ask the LEA's justification for insisting on that particular professional.
However, it could be that the private practitioner also works for the NHS so the LA will accept their report whereas they don't "believe" reports from totally independent professionals.

There's a really odd thing about reports, may be just my own experience or may be common, i don't know. Our GP gives no credence to any reports unless they are done on the NHS, so if the GP is asked if a patient has x condition and there's no NHS report to say so, but there is a private one, then they will say they have no evidence of that patient having that condition.

To complicate things even further, sometimes the long NHS waitlist for a practitioner is because they only work one day a week for the NHS and the other 4 days for their own private practice.

youarenotkiddingme · 10/05/2018 20:38

I'd want it in writing that the LA have to agree the report (having no expertise) before you're allowed to view it.

Could be useful information for the future.

cansu · 11/05/2018 17:25

As the LA commissioned and paid for report, they will be sent it as a matter of course, but as it is about your child, you absolutely have the right to have the report. I would write to the LA asking for a copy of the report. If they do not send it, make a subject access request for it. If you suspect that the report has been changed, you could ask for more information. I asked for copies of emails between certain people, minutes and all kinds of info which was very revealing and helpful!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page