Children with Disabilities
What are our Aims
and Objectives for services for disabled children?
To ensure that all disabled children are supported within their families and are fully included and valued members of their local communities.
Who is able to receive a service?
To receive a service a child must fall within the definition of
a ‘child in need’. This will be decided by a social worker on
completion of an Initial Assessment.
The Children Act 1989 defines disabled children as ‘children in
need’ if;
A child is disabled if he is blind, deaf or without speech or suffers from mental disorder of any kind or is substantially and permanently disabled by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed.
However as part of any assessment Children's Social Care would also look at how the child can access the same opportunities and choices available to all children and therefore considers whether:
'the child or young person has a permanent physical, learning or sensory impairment, or a combination of these impairments, which significantly compromises their ability to access the day to day activities, or opportunities, available to their non-disabled peers.
To receive a service children and young people are likely to have one or more of the following impairments or conditions which impact on their life:
- Severe learning impairment;
- Severe and permanent physical impairment;
- Communication impairment which has permanent and substantial effect on the child’s life.
- A life-limiting health condition;
- Younger children with developmental delay;
- Sensory impairments.
How do you make a request for a service?
If your child is in need of a service, or you are in need of advice or support, the Contact and Referral Team will be able to help and refer you on to the Children with Disabilities Team for an assessment of your child’s needs and the family’s need for support.
How is the assessment undertaken?
The Contact and Referral Team will pass the referral on to the Children with Disabilities Team who will then carry out an Initial Assessment of the child or young person within seven working days.
The referral will be allocated to a social worker who will make contact and arrange a visit to discuss the needs of the child and family. The social worker will also provide advice, guidance and support on a range of issues relating to the child’s disability. Leaflets are available explaining the Assessment Framework process for parents and children.
What services are available?
There are a range of services within Cheshire to support disabled children and young people including:
- Support in the family home – such as direct personal care to assist parents in the care of their child.
- Short break family based care – this is provided by linking children and young people with a foster family.
- Short break residential care – this is provided in the children’s centres based in Ellesmere Port and Winsford for children and young people with more complex needs.
- Family support workers attached to the Children with Disabilities Team – the workers provide activities for children particularly during school holidays giving the parents a break from their caring role.
- Other Services – Children’s Social Care has links with many other organisations across the County to provide other services, such as summer playschemes and after school clubs.
Children’s Social Care can provide services themselves or parents and carers can purchase and manage their own support through the provision of Direct Payments. There is written information available about Direct Payments; ask your social worker for details following the initial assessment.
What is the Aiming High for Disabled Children?
The Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme (AHDC) is a central government programme aimed at transforming disabled children's services, jointly delivered by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health (DH) to help disabled children, young people and families get the support and chances they need to lead ordinary lives.
Further information about Aiming high in Cheshire West and Chester can be found on the following webpage:
Aiming High for Disabled Children
How is transition to adult services planned?
If a young person has a statement of special educational needs, the Annual Review in Year 9 will initiate the transition planning for the young person. Connexions will provide young people and parents with a transition information pack at the review.
Parents are fully included in the transition planning process. Connexions will produce a Transition Plan that is regularly reviewed to ensure an appropriate plan is in place by the time the young person reaches adulthood.
At the age 18 the responsibility for social care provision will pass from Children’s Social Care to Adults Social Care and Health.
Further details about the transition process can be found on the following webpage:
Moving from Children's Social Care to Adult Services
How can you make a Compliment or Complaint about services?
Parents can voice their views about the service being provided at any of the regular review meetings. We want to ensure that the services which we offer are what families and young people want. If you are unhappy about the services being received, you should raise your concerns directly with the child’s social worker or the Team Manager. Parents or young people can also make a formal complaint by requesting a copy of the Complaints leaflet which sets out the procedure.