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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definitions and Case Responsibility
3. Referrals
4. Provision of Specialist Services

1. Introduction

Work in relation to disabled children will be integrated in all work related to children and families across the service, and will not be exclusively managed by the Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team

See Transition Arrangements between Children's Division and Disabilities Team Protocol.

Case responsibility will not transfer for a disabled child because they become subject to a Child Protection Plan or become Looked After. Similarly, a Looked After child or a child who is the subject of a Child Protection Plan should not be transferred because they are disabled or become disabled and/or develop significant health needs.

The Social Worker for a disabled child will be able to call on the expertise of a Social Worker experienced in child protection and an area Social Worker will be able to call on the expertise of a Social Worker experienced in child health/disability issues.

At the point of first referral where a disabled child is concerned, joint working, i.e. joint visit or joint attendance at multi agency meeting if requested, would be an expectation. Thereafter the Lead Professional and or relevant social care team will be identified.

The principle of one Social Worker for each family will apply regardless of whether or not the children have or develop complex health needs or disabilities. A family case will not be transferred to the Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team solely because of the needs of one sibling. 

2. Definitions and Case Responsibility

The Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team will focus on that group of children with severe disabilities or complex health needs where the needs specifically relate to the child or young persons disability or health condition. The typical conditions include severe learning or physical disability, sensory loss, autism with learning disabilities, severe epilepsy, organ failure, metabolic conditions and progressive neurological conditions. This is not an exhaustive list, covering only the key conditions that colleagues will usually be alerted to, a list cannot substitute the need for dialogue between teams.

Children with generalised learning difficulties will continue to be dealt with by the Assessment Teams, Children and Families and Youth and Family Teams. Children within this group include those with emotional and behavioural difficulties with no specific diagnosis, ADHD, mental ill health and aspergers or autism where there is no significant learning disability.

The needs of carers and siblings will be considered as part of an assessment of the needs of the child and family.

See Assessment for Carers Procedure.

Where there are issues that do not specifically relate to a disabled child or a child with a complex health need within the family then these issues will continue to be considered by the Assessment, Children and Families and Youth and Family Teams. For example issues in relation to domestic violence, homelessness, family functioning, or financial issues.

Disabled children or children with complex health needs who come to the attention of the Service for the first time or who are re-referred because they may be at Risk of Significant Harm will be dealt with by the Area teams.

Where Family Centres are working with a disabled child and there are new concerns that the child may be at risk of Significant Harm; and they require investigation and assessment, then this work will be undertaken by the area assessment teams.

The Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team will provide advice, assistance and consultation to other teams in Children’s Services. See Transition Arrangements between Children's Division and Disabilities Team Protocol.

3. Referrals

Arrangements for the referral of children and families that are either not known or whose case is closed will be made in the same way as all other children (See Initial Contacts and Referrals Procedure).

Children in Need who receive a Social Care Service and have an identified Complex Health Need or a Disability, which fulfils the criteria of the Disability Team, can be referred directly to the Complex Health or Disability Team.

The Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team will respond to referrals in line with the protocol, which provides definitions and criteria. See Transition Arrangements between Children's Division and Disabilities Team Protocol

Social Workers in Children’s Social Care Services who are already working with disabled children and children with complex health needs, can contact the Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team directly. The primary focus will be on receiving advice or consultation or co-work in certain situations. See Transition Arrangements between Children's Division and Disabilities Team Protocol.

At the conclusion of an Initial or Core Assessment a transfer request may be made to the children's complex health or disability team, this will involve a discussion with the  Senior Care Manager from the Children's Complex Health or Disability Long Term Team. In these circumstances the assessment will   have identified the needs of the child and the carer and the issues that affect them.

Social Workers throughout Children’s Social Care Services can directly access the specialist provider services for disabled children so long as the child is the subject of a core assessment. (See Shared Care and Respite Care Procedure).

Professionals from other agencies may make a referral to the Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team and this should be done in the same manner as all other children (See Initial Contacts and Referrals Procedure).

4. Provision of Specialist Services

Social Workers throughout Children’s Social Care Services can directly access the specialist provider services for disabled children.

Once the Children’s Complex Health or Disability Team have accepted a referral, the child and their family will be the subject of the same assessment procedure as any other child in so far as they should be the subject of the same assessment criteria as all other children. (See Initial Assessment Procedures and Core Assessments Procedures).

Disabled Children and Children with complex health needs may be provided with the same range of services as all other children and like them, they should be the subject of a Care Plan and Review see Child in Need Plans and Reviews Procedure and Provision of Services to Children in Need Procedure).

Following an assessment of need, a range of resources may be identified:

• Locality/Community Service/activity or specialist resources;
• Direct Payment;
• Home Care;
• Shared Care;
• Respite Care.

Direct Payments

Direct payments is one way of arranging services for disabled children, children with complex health needs and their families once the needs have been assessed.  A person with Parental Responsibility is provided with a budget to pay for and manage  services instead of Children's Social Care Services.

Direct payments can only be received if an assessment by Children's Social Care Services has identified needs which it is agreed are the responsibility of the Department to meet. The amount of money which is given as a direct payment would normally be no more than the cost of the service if it had been provided by the Department itself. Appropriate support is available for the person with Parental Responsibility.

Home Care

Home care is available on a contractual basis from a credited private agencies (contract compliance holds the up to date list). The contract and budget for this is the responsibility of the care management team that assess the need.

Home Care Services can provide:

1. Assistance to parents and carers with a child's day to day and personal care needs;
2. Support to parents/carers who are unable to provide care due to their own health difficulties. (This should be assessed in conjunction with adult services);
3. Support to ensure children to be cared for at home;
4. Short breaks for parents/carers.

Respite Care Series of Short Breaks

A variety of options are available to children, young people and their families depending upon their needs.

The Inclusion project provides access to a range of specialist and mainstream, after school and holiday opportunities, this service is not assessed.

For information on services that are available following an assessment, reference should be made to The Guide – Services used by Families with Disabled Children in the Bradford District. These resources provide a range of services which form part of the care plan, which might include, after- school, day care, weekend, holiday and overnight looked after provision.

Shared Care

Shared Care is a service that offers short breaks to disabled children or children with complex health needs. Its aim is to provide new experiences and friendships for the child and a break for the person who is the permanent carer. The care is provided by ordinary families who have been registered as foster carers and have had specific training in disability issues. The care could be for a few hours a day, an overnight or a weekend looked after arrangement in the carers’ home or a sitting service in the child’s home. The care would usually be on a regular basis perhaps once a week or once a month according to the needs of the child. The need for the care and the frequency would be established by Assessment  and the care plan.

Transition

There are specific agreements in relation to the transition to, and consultation available from, adult services (see Transition Arrangements between Children's Division and Disabilities Team Protocol and Sensory Needs Service Protocol).

Occupational Therapy

The protocol sets out the Occupational Therapy Referral and Assessment Procedure.

End