Supporting children with disabilities

We work as a team to make sure children with additional needs and their families get the best support.

Our team covers a wide variety of needs and consists of:

• social workers
• occupational therapists
• family support workers
• day care co-ordinators
• volunteer co-ordinators
• play leader and play workers

We work directly with young people to make sure their identified needs are met as early as possible. We listen to their views on what we do. We promote health and wellbeing through learning and fun activities. We make sure they are safe from harm in their environment.

The children with disabilities team provides specialist services to children with disabilities and their families. These services are accessed via an assessment.

They include:

• support packages for complex needs
• emotional and practical support
• advice and signposting
• child protection services for disabled children
• services to children in care with disabilities

Assessments

To ensure families receive the right level of support, we include eligibility criteria in the assessment process. This is to evaluate whether specialist services are needed.

Specialist services provide an intensive level of support.

The team will offer an assessment where the child has a condition which is:

• substantial
• long lasting
• permanent or life limiting

This can include:

• autistic spectrum conditions
• challenging behaviour because of their severe learning disability
• children and young people with a physical or sensory impairment effecting sight or hearing
• children and young people with complex health needs - including those with a life limiting or life threatening condition
• severe motor developmental delay and/or cognitive delay

Under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, all children and young people with disabilities are entitled to an assessment of their needs. The provision of these services is a responsibility shared with voluntary sector services.

To see all of our information about the support families can receive, with or without an assessment, visit our SEND Hub (Local offer).