Appendix A: Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Mid-Cycle Briefing

North Yorkshire Council

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee

17 December 2025

Appointing a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services

1.0       Purpose of the report

1.1 To outline the key issues that were discussed at the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee Mid Cycle Briefing on 17 November concerning the appointing of a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion.

1.2 For the Committee to consider the issues presented within this report to help determine whether to recommend the appointment of a Member Champion role to focus on supporting Neurodivergent Young People.

2.0       Background

2.1       At the meeting of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17       September 2025, the Committee was scheduled to consider a report about appointing a         Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion (the report is available in the Background         Documents). Due to the volume of business, consideration of this item was deferred and          the Chair advised that the matter would be discussed at the next Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Mid-Cycle Briefing on 17 November 2025 and that a report         would be brought back to the next scheduled meeting of the Committee.

2.2       At the Executive meeting on 18 November, an Annual Review of Member Champions      asked members to consider if the role and remit of Member Champions remain aligned with       the Council’s current priorities and challenges (the report is available in the Background             Documents).

3.0       Factors to consider

3.1       At the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Mid-Cycle Briefing, a number of factors were raised which members are asked to consider.

3.2       Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision for children and young people is a key consideration in all relevant discussions and decisions, especially at Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings. Members have the opportunity to offer their views, ask questions and seek further clarification.

3.3       The Children’s and Wellbeing Bill will address how children’s social care and educational standards are to be improved. The Director of Children and Families gave an overview of the Bill’s proposals at the committee meeting in June 2025, and it was agreed that a further update would be presented once the Bill is passed in Parliament. It is anticipated that this will be in the New Year.

3.4       Members may prefer to wait and see what the final version of the Children’s and Wellbeing Bill will look like before considering appointing a further member champion.

3.5       It was recognised that the current Young People’s Member Champion regularly attends several meetings where SEND is discussed. She is also a member of the Scrutiny of Health Committee. 

3.6       Members are encouraged to speak to the Young People’s Member Champion if they wish to discuss SEND issues.

3.7       At the Executive meeting on 18 November, it was resolved that the Member Champion roles remain appropriate and in line with the Council’s priorities/challenges.

4.0       Consultation undertaken and responses

4.1       Not applicable.

5.0       Contribution to Council Priorities

· Safe, healthy and living well.

· Maximise the potential.

6.0       Alternative options considered

6.1       Options include:

· To recommend that the leader of the Council considers appointing a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion, with clear terms of reference outlining the role and responsibilities.

· For the Committee to agree that a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion is not required.

· For the Committee to wait until they have received a summary of the final version of the Children’s and Wellbeing Bill until they decide whether a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion is required.

7.0       Impact on other services/organisations

7.1       There will be no impact on other services/organisations.

8.0       Financial implications

8.1       There are no financial implications. If a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion is        appointed, the options will be to either a) not allocate a SRA to the post, or b) to allocate        some of the Young People’s Champion SRA.

9.0       Legal implications

9.1       There are no legal implications.

10.0     Equalities implications

10.1     Appointing a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion will complement the equality             considerations that the Council is already giving.

11.0     Climate change implications

11.1     Not applicable.

12.0     Performance implications

12.1     Not applicable.

13.0     Policy implications

13.1     Not applicable.

14.0     Risk management implications

14.1     Not applicable.

15.0     Human Resource implications

15.1     Not applicable.

16.0     ICT implications

16.1     Not applicable.

17.0     Community safety implications

17.1     Not applicable.

18.0     Recommendations

18.1	It is recommended that the Committee: 19.1
	i. Note the report and background documents. ii. Decide if they wish to recommend to the Leader of the Council that a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion should be appointed. iii. If the Committee agree that a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion is required, to decide if this is the responsibility of Children and Families or Scrutiny of Health.

Background Documents:

Consideration to Appointing a Neurodivergent Young People’s Champion Report: 17 September 2025

Annual Review of Member Champions Report: 18 November 2025

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services

County Hall

Northallerton

4 December 2025

Report Author: Alice Fox, Senior Scrutiny Officer.   

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.