Eligibility Criteria for Assessment by the Children with Disabilities Service

Eligibility criteria for assessment by the Children with Disabilities Service

Legal framework

The principal legislation for support services to disabled children, young people and their families is the Children Act 1989. Under Section 17 of the Children Act disabled children are children in need. The Act places on local authorities two general duties to children in need: to safeguard and promote their welfare and to promote their upbringing by their families wherever possible.

The criteria in this document set out how Somerset County Council interprets these two general duties to disabled children and young people living in its area.

Other legislation which is also relevant to the provision of these services includes the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (1970), the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Background

The Children Act 1989 states within its 'Children in Need' definition that disabled children andthose with complex health needs are those children:

• who are unlikely to achieve or attain a reasonable standard of health and

development without provision of services;

• whose health and development is likely to be significantly impaired without the

provision of services;

• who are disabled;

The Assessment Process

A child is eligible for a child and family assessment from the Children with Disabilities social work team, if he/she:

• Has a medical diagnosis of severe physical impairment, learning impairment or

Autism; and

• Has a home address within Somerset; and
• Has needs arising from their impairment that cannot be met by services within

universal or targeted children's services.

The emphasis in the assessment of a disabled child is on the impact of the child’s impairment on the child and family’s daily lived experience, as distinct from, but not excluding, issues of family dysfunction.

The outcome of the assessment and any associatedaction plan, may range from a

complex, long-term written action plan, to a simple referral to another agency with

recommendations, or a decision to take no further action. The action plan will describe the needs identified in the assessment and the appropriate interventions to meet these.

A child and family assessment is carried out by a social worker. If the assessment

indicates that the child's needs could be met by a short break service or a Direct Payment a referral is made tothe Resource Panel. The Panel will work towards finding the best model of care/shortbreak available for the individual child or consider the suitability of any recommended Direct Payment package. Any action or service recommended by theResource Panel is reviewed every 6 months.

Where a child has needs arising from their impairment that could be met by targeted services, an early help assessment will be carried out by the Children with Disabilities early support team or another agency professional.

Level of Need: Level of Intervention

The table on the next page provides information about how professionals match assessed need with available services.

The first column details the level of need through identification of factors in the child's lifesuch as sleepless nights, the complexity of care needs etc.

The second column details the range of possible services available such as Direct Payments or Short Breaks whilst services are named within this column please bear inmind the following:

• Universal Services refers to those services which are deemed open toall (dependent on availability of places) and do not require referral by a social

worker or any other professional.

• Voluntary/community groups are organisations that are not run by the Council.

The table is formatted so that the greatest level of need (and the corresponding services

available) is detailed at the top of the table with the lowest level of need and possible

services available at the bottom.. Each child/familycircumstance is different.

This table provides an indication of the types of services available but is not exhaustive and should only be used forguidance.

There is an overview of the specific services availableon Somerset’s Local Offer on the Somerset Choiceswebsite atSomerset Choices

NB: Access to hospices has not been included within this table although access to hospicecare is available via referral to NHS where assessed as required.

• Parents/carers and siblings require a break or assistance to engage in personal leisure activities/short break that are not appropriate or enjoyable for their disabled child.

• Occupational therapy service
• Somerset Supporters Service
• Children’s Autism Outreach team
• All universal inclusive services
• Voluntary/Community Groups

• Inclusive play schemes

• Reception into care via Section 20 of Children Act 1989.
• Short break care via s 17 of Children Act 1989.
• Short breaks service
• All universal inclusive services
• Voluntary/Community Groups
• Direct Payments
• Occupational therapy service
• Somerset Supporters Service
• Children’s Autism Outreach team

• Disturbed nights
• Persistent challenging behaviour
• Supervision of the child's complex

• Reception into care via Section 20 or 31 of Children Act 1989.
• Short breaks service
• All universal inclusive services
• Voluntary/Community Groups
• Direct Payments
• Occupational therapy service
• Somerset Supporters Service