‘No new funding for lead professional’

The government has said that no new funding will be provided for
the role of lead professional.

Speaking at a conference on services for disabled children last
week, minister for Sure Start and special educational needs Cathy
Ashton said the government was looking to savings made by
introducing a single assessment process for children to pay for
lead professionals.

Ashton told delegates that the lead professional proposal was “not
about creating a new role” but about a professional who already
works with the child taking on lead responsibility and
co-ordinating other services.

But Patricia Sloper, professor of children’s health at the social
policy research unit, University of York, said savings would be
inadequate and that lead professionals would need protected time to
carry out the role.