Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Sefton and Liverpool have appointed a designated clinical officer (DCO).

Emma Powell was appointed by NHS South Sefton CCG, NHS Southport and Formby CCG and NHS Liverpool CCG in December 2018 to support health services in the implementation of the Children and Families Act. The scope of her role is very broad and key responsibilities are as follows:

• Oversight – across all health professionals delivering healthcare to individual disabled children, young people and those with special educational needs
• Coordination – in relation to the Local Offer, process for mediation arrangements regarding the health elements of the EHC plan and EHC assessments with other key assessments such as Children & Young People’s Continuing Care assessments and Looked After Children Health assessments
• Strategic – contribution to the development of a joint commissioning strategy and participation and engagement strategy.

To contact Emma Powell, the current DCO for Liverpool and Sefton, please use the following e-mail address: liverpool.seftondco@nhs.net

To read our Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) statement of intent which sets out the role and function we as a CCG have in relation to special educational needs and disability (SEND), please click HERE.