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Children with Disabilities Team

There is a high demand for our services. The council operates an eligibility criteria system to make sure the most urgent needs are met quickly.  To make a referral please call 01275 888 801.

The Children with Disabilities Team are a multi-disciplinary workforce consisting of social workers, occupational therapists, family support workers, day care co-ordinators, volunteer co-ordinators, and play workers.  We work with children and young people aged 0-18 with complex and additional needs.

Services offered:

  • we deliver support services to children with a range of additional needs and their families within the home and community settings
  • we work with children and young people to ensure we meet their identified needs as early as possible
  • we aim to ensure children are effectively safeguarded, promote their health and wellbeing, to access learning and fun activities.
  • we support families to provide the best possible care for their children

The Children with Disabilities Team provides specialist services to disabled children and their families.  This includes:

  • Assessment to access assessed and complex needs support packages
  • Emotional and practical support
  • Advice and signposting
  • Child Protection Services for disabled children
  • Services to Looked After Disabled Children

 

Who to contact

Telephone
01934 427 615 (The Firs Resource Centre, Weston-super-Mare)
01275 884 101 (St Barnabas Centre, Portishead)

Where to go

Address
Disabled Children-The Firs Resource Centre
89a Drove Road
Weston Super Mare
Postcode
BS23 3NX

Other details

Availability

Age Ranges
0-18 years
Referral required
Yes
Referral Details

There is a high demand for our services. The council operates an eligibility criteria system to make sure the most urgent needs are met quickly.

Specialist Short Breaks require an assessment.

There are many disabled children in North Somerset who need help. However, the local authority has limited financial resources and the eligibility criteria is used as part of an assessment process to decide who can access specialist services. This makes sure that families most in need receive the necessary support

The criteria for the Disabled Childrens Team teams establishes the threshold at which a referral in relation to a child with a disability will require a specialist assessment. The team will offer an assessment where the child has a condition which is substantial, long lasting permanent, physical or life limiting including

  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder
  • Challenging behaviour as a result of their severe learning disability
  • Children and young people with a physical impairment or sensory impairment affecting sight or hearing
  • Children and young people with complex healthcare needs including those with a life limiting or a life threatening condition
  • Severe developmental delay in motor and or cognitive functioning

Under section 17 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 across all areas of Children’s Services including health and voluntary sector services. The criteria for referral and assessment for the Disabled Childrens teams would not include those with the following diagnoses

  • Emotional and behavioural difficulties
  • ADHD
  • Dyslexia
  • Dyspraxia
  • Asperger’s Syndrome

Children Services are provided by the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and through the Community Family Teams. These are for children and young people who are substantially and adversely affected in their ability to carry out normal day to day activities through a mental impairment

If you need an assessment for your child, or are already waiting for one and their needs change, please contact North Somerset Council Care Connect Team:
Tel 01275 888 801, Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm

If you wish to call the duty team for advice or information, please call 01934 427 615, Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Local offer

Description

Support for children and young people with SEND.

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