NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

CHILDREN FAMILIES AND EDUCATION

DISABLED CHILDREN

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Services are provided under The Equality Act 2010, Disability Discrimination Act, Children Acts 1989 and 2004 to safeguard and promote the welfare of disabled children. The purpose of services is to allow children with substantial and long term disability and/or complex health needs to reach their full potential and quality of life.

Specialist support promoting a social model of Disability to children and their families at Early Help and Prevention through to Level 4 specialism and transition to Adult Services.

Definition:

A child with disability will be defined as having: “A permanent severe/substantial learning and/or physical disability and/or profound sensory impairment”

In addition:

  • The child may be vulnerable because they have on-going health needs arising from their disability which require nursing care and supervision.
  • The child may be vulnerable in ordinary day-to-day situations without supervision because of his/her disability.
  • The child may have a physical dependency in terms of his/her day-to-day care needs, which substantially impact upon the family and other carers.
  • The child may have challenging behavioural, learning or emotional difficulties airing out of his/her disability.

Eligibility criteria for the Specialist Disabled Children’s Team:

In order for a child or young person to be considered for support from the specialist Disabled Children’s Team (level 4), a number of areas of need relating to the child’s disability and impact on the family are considered. The needs identified below must be present for assessment and intervention from the Disabled Children’s Team to be provided.

Disabled children meeting eligibility for specialise tier 4 services will usually be in receipt of high rate DLA in care and mobility components in the following areas:

  • Severe learning disabilities
  • Severe physical disabilities including substantial sensory impairment together with auditory and/or visual impairment
  • Severe developmental delay in motor and/or cognitive functioning
  • Profound multiple disabilities
  • Complex and severe health problems that arise from the disability, that are life limiting, degenerative illness or organic disorder resulting in severe disability

Children with a diagnosis of High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disability generally will not meet the criteria for the Disabled Children’s Team unless it is accompanied by a diagnosed severe physical disability and/or severe learning disability and it is assessed that these substantially impact on their daily living.

Those children who have clearly definite behavioural problems, coupled with school exclusion and a diagnosed disability, would be considered for consultative role with a Social Worker in the specialist Disabled Children’s Team.

Disabled children and young people who are identified as in need of support and/or protection may lead to a short break provision or accommodated by the Local Authority (Section 20 – Regulation 48) would be considered for referral to the Disabled Children’s Team or the team would act in a consultative role in reference to the case.

Siblings of a disabled child being in need of support and safeguarding will be considered as a family group when appropriate when the presenting concern is the disability. This is inclusive of children aged 14+ who are identified as being at risk of significant harm.

The Disabled Children’s Team provides a social model of disability that challenges and seeks to remove the barriers to children and enable all children to have access and opportunities to reach their full potential. Therefore children with some disability who do not meet the criteria for Level 4 specialist support may require service provision from Safeguarding and Care Planning teams or Specialist Early Help & Prevention Disabled Children’s Service to support customer ability to manage family life.

The Disabled Children’s Team is unlikely to provide a service to children with:

  • Moderate physical disabilities
  • Specific learning disabilities
  • Speech and language difficulties
  • Minor sensory impairment (except for equipment assessment and provision)
  • Educational problems
  • Emotional and behavioural problems including children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Mild to moderate developmental delay
  • Oppositional defiant disorder

The Disabled Children’s Team may need to know more information before deciding whether the child meets the eligibility criteria and therefore may need to contact other people who know the child.

If there is a query about eligibility then this will need to be taken up with the Disabled Children’s Team Manager.

If the available information is still insufficient to make a decision as to whether the child meets the Team’s criteria, the Disabled Children’s Team will offer the child and family a consultation and/or a joint visit to determine the most appropriate service provision. On the basis of this the child will either be accepted as meeting the Disabled Children’s Team criteria for a service or the information will be forwarded to the appropriate children’s social care team for follow up as necessary.

Some children can be referred immediately to specialist services:

  • A disabled child who was in receipt of specialist help from another Local Authority moves into Northamptonshire.
  • A child with Continuing care needs is referred by the Continuing Care Service, or is ready for discharge from hospital.

Review:

NCC recognises that the needs of children and families may change over time. Therefore, all support will be reviewed and may increase, decrease or cease as appropriate.

MS HELEN MIDDLETON

Service Manager

NCC DCT Eligibility Criteria April 2015

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