Children who are Disabled Service

1. Criteria

1.1	The criteria for the Children who are Disabled Service establishes the threshold at which a referral in relation to a child with a disability will be accepted on the basis that the child requires a specialist social care service.
1.2	Where a child has disabilities which appear to meet the criteria and particularly call for specialist intervention, these cases will be referred to the Children who are Disabled Service.
1.3	The criteria are that the child must have a permanent or long lasting disability (diagnosed by a doctor or consultant) and be severely or profoundly impaired. Consideration will also be given to other children who have a significant number of moderate impairments or where a more specialist intervention is indicated.
1.4	The criteria do not include children diagnosed with ADHD or HIV or a psychiatric illness.
1.5	Any children diagnosed with ADHD or HIV or a psychiatric illness will only be eligible for referral to the Children with Disability Service, therefore, if they also have other conditions which meet the criteria.
1.6	Where other Children's Services Teams hold cases of children who might be considered to be disabled, appropriate advice and support can be made available from the specialist Children who are Disabled Service.

2. Referral Process

2.1	Where a referral is received and it appears that the criteria for the Children who are Disabled Service are met, the specialist CWAD Service will be informed and consultation will take place and advice sought as to whether the criteria is confirmed and arrangements made to receive the referral. Where there are child protection concerns, see Section 4, Child Protection Cases.
2.2	Where there is a dispute, the matter should be discussed between the relevant team managers with a view to resolution.
2.3	Where the dispute remains unresolved, the matter should be referred to the relevant Senior Manager with a view to resolution.

3. Assessment Process

3.1	All children who meet the criteria for the Children who are Disabled Service will receive an Assessment of their need for services.
3.2	The Assessment will be carried out in consultation with the family and child/young person where appropriate, using information from other professionals as appropriate.
3.3	It is the impact the disability has on daily living that is a key part of the Assessment.
3.4	Additional specialist assessments will be commissioned as necessary from: Occupational Therapy; Hearing and Vision Services; SEN and Educational Psychology Services.
3.5	The Assessment may identify that needs arise due to a child's disability or as a result of a parent's health or disability or a child may be in need of protection from abuse or neglect - see Section 4, Child Protection Cases.
3.6	Parents of children with disability and the child (depending of their age and level of understanding) will be given information about the Disability Register - see Section 7, Disability Register.

4. Child Protection Cases

Principle: Family Support and CWAD teams should work in partnership to ensure that children are protected from harm.

4.1	With new referrals received by Children’s Services (i.e. where the case is not open to the CWAD Service) where the primary concern is child protection, but the child has a disability that meets the criteria, the Children who are Disabled Service will be notified by the Family Support Integrated Duty Team. If agreed between Family Support and CWAD managers the case can be reassigned to CWAD who will undertake any further assessment and investigation. If managers agree that the case remains with the local Family Support Team, appropriate advice can be provided by the Children who are Disabled Service relating to issues arising from any disability. If a timely decision cannot be made then the response to the child protection concerns defaults to the local Family Support Team.
4.2	The Children who are Disabled Service will usually undertake all Section 47 Enquiries, assessments and legal proceedings in respect of children who are already open cases.
4.3	In cases where there is a child with disability as one of a group of siblings under child protection procedures, Family Support and CWAD managers will agree on one of the following courses of action as appropriate: Primary case responsibility for the sibling group is with Family Support alone; Primary case responsibility for the sibling group is with CWAD alone; Joint working for the sibling group, with the Children who are Disabled Team holding primary case responsibility for the disabled child(ren) and the Family Support Team holding primary case responsibility for the non-disabled child(ren); Joint working with primary case responsibility with Family Support and secondary allocation to CWAD for Disability Support.
4.4	Where referrals are received directly by the Children who are Disabled Service a determination will be made as to whether the criteria for the service is met. Where it is apparent that the criteria as paragraph 1.3 above is not met then the relevant Family Support Integrated Duty Team will be notified and the referral passed to that team.

5. Services to Children with Disability

As a general principle, where children and families can receive mainstream services, these should be provided as a way of minimising the impact of disability and maximising inclusion.

Where the Assessment identifies that specialist services are required, these may be provided by health or voluntary agencies as well as the local authority. The Assessment will make recommendations as to the kind of services or equipment that are required to meet the child's needs.

Any recommendation for the provision of equipment requires the approval of the Operational Manager CWAD Service. If approved, equipment will usually be provided on a long term loan basis. Adaptation work through a Disabled Facilities Grant can be carried out by referral to the local authority and the family will be given assistance with this.

The support services that may be included in a support package for a child who is disabled and his/her family range from:

The provision of information on activities, clubs, playgroups and play schemes;
The provision of advice and information about other organisations which may be able to offer help and support;
Support for the child in/outside the home;
Day care services such as childminding;
Short breaks providing overnight care - see Short Breaks Procedure;
Support services using direct payments - see the Direct Payments Procedure;
Policy and Procedure;
When services have been agreed, they will be incorporated into a Child in Need Plan - or, where the child becomes Looked After, a Care Plan or Short Break Plan.

6. Services to Carers

Services can also be provided to carers where the child is disabled. Under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 carers are entitled to an assessment of their own needs. Any such assessment of carers should follow the guidance in the Assessment Procedure.

7. Disability Register

The Disability Register holds information about children with disability and is a legal requirement for all local authorities.

Parents are asked whether they wish to supply information about their child for inclusion on the register.

The register is used to plan and develop services for children with disability and also to assist Adult Services with information on future service needs.

The Statutory Register of children who are Disabled in the Dorset Council Area is managed through the Xchange Website - The interactive news and information network for children who are disabled and their families.

See The Xchange (Dorset Council website).

8. Reviews

Reviews of Child in Need Plans for children with disability take place within 3 months of the start of the plan and thereafter at least annually.

The review is usually conducted by the allocated worker contacting all those involved in the plan. The worker will then prepare a summary of the comments and observations made and present it to the Children with Disability Team manager for approval. Where necessary, changes to the Child in Need Plan will be made and the amended plan circulated to all involved as set out in Child in Need Plans and Reviews Procedure.

The Reviewing and monitoring of children and young people who are disabled and subject to a child protection plan will follow the statutory guidance.

All Reviews can be conducted more frequently where circumstances require it, e.g. where there has been a significant change in the child's circumstances or with the resource or resources involved or where there is a legal requirement to do so.

For reviews of children in receipt of short breaks, see Short Breaks Procedure.