Children with Disabilities team
The Children with Disabilities Team provides:
- advice and guidance on service and resources
- Section 47 Child Protection investigations
- Public Law Outline processes and care proceedings
- single social work assessments, transition plans and Child in Need Reviews.
- support for families
- support to access short breaks
- long term alternative care under Section 17 and 20 of The Children Act 1989
Principles
The team seeks to promote:
- equality of opportunity
- reduced discrimination against those with disabilities
Children with disabilities:
- are seen as children first
- are children in need
- should have access to the same range of services as non-disabled children
- the welfare of the child should be safeguarded and promoted by service providers
- efforts must be made to understand the child's wishes and feelings, and take them into account
- the importance of parent carers and families in the lives of children with disabilities should be recognised. Assessments are holistic and include the needs of siblings and carers
- parents of children with disabilities have greatly expanded care commitments, and should be recognised as both parents and carers
- carers of children held by the team have a right to a carer's assessment. This includes young carers
To meet needs:
- parent carers can get direct payments in lieu of services for the child. And in lieu of services for themselves as part of the family
- young people with disabilities (age 16 to 17) can get direct payments in lieu of services to them where appropriate
- short-term breaks should be provided to meet assessed need