The Children with Disabilities Team provides specialist services to disabled children and their families. This includes:
- Assessment to access support packages for complex needs
- Emotional and practical support
- Advice and signposting
- Child Protection Services for disabled children
- Services to Looked After Disabled Children
Assessment from the Children with Disabilities Team
There are many disabled children in North Somerset who need help. However the local authority has limited resources and the eligibility criteria below is used as part of the assessment process to decide who can access specialist services. This makes sure that families most in need receive the necessary support.
The team will offer an assessment where the child has a condition which is substantial, long lasting, permanent or life limiting, including:
- Autistic spectrum conditions
- Challenging behaviour as a result of their severe learning disability
- Children and young people with a physical impairment or sensory impairment effecting sight or hearing
- Children and young people with complex health needs including those with a life limiting or life threating condition
- Severe developmental delay in motor and or cognitive delay
Under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, all disabled children and young people are entitled to an assessment of their needs. The overall provision of these services is a responsibility shared and voluntary sector services. The criteria for referral and assessment for the Children with Disabilities Social Work Team would not include those with the following diagnosis:
- Emotional and behaviour difficulties
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Asperger's syndrome
These children may be able to access assessments and services through the local Child and Mental Health services (CAHMS) and through the locality social work teams.