Following a joint review of disabled children's services undertaken by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and HM Treasury, the government launched the document Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families.

The implementation of Aiming High for Disabled Children is being managed through joint arrangements between the DCSF, the Department of Health (DH) and their delivery partners in the Care Services Improvement Partnership, the NHS and local authority children's services.

Ministerial implementation group

At the centre of these arrangements is a joint ministerial implementation group, jointly chaired by Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Phil Hope, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health. The NHS Confederation and PCT Network is represented on this group by David Smith, chief executive of Kingston PCT.

Update from meeting on Wednesday 16 January 2008:

• The Operating Framework (para 2.65 page 23) states 'disabled children : identifying actions and setting local targets on improving the experience of, and ranges of services for, children with disabilities and complex health needs and their families. This includes significantly increasing the range of short breaks, improving the quality and experience of palliative care services, improving access to therapies and supporting effective transition to adult services'.
• Funding has been included in PCT baseline allocations to enable PCTs to work with local authorities to significantly increase the range and number of short breaks. Growth funding has also been included to support the service in responding to the forthcoming children's palliative care strategy, focusing on building a sustainable service of palliative care networks and support for community nursing teams. Funding will also be made available to improve equipment and wheelchair services.
• A 'Core offer' discussion paper is under development by DH and DCSF and consultation will take place between January and March on this with PCTs and Local Authorities. This paper is aimed at setting clear standards for what disabled children and parents can expect to receive. Organisations will be expected to produce action plans to implement this.