Children and young people with a disability
Services for children, young people and their families who have a disability are provided by a range for partners across Walsall including NHS Walsall.
We hope this page will provide you will information about these services and our future plans.
Children and Young People with a Disability Strategy
This is a multi agency strategy agreed by parents, education, social care and health as the way in which we want services for children and young people who have a disability and their families to develop .
The strategy is very much a working document and is designed to cover a two year period from 2008 – 2010. As a working document it is under regular review by the steering group.
Strategy and Action Plan for Children with a Disability (Word 331KB)
Disability Strategy Steering Group (Word 33KB)
Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC)
This is the government’s three year programme to transform information and services for children and young people who have a disability and their families. Much of what we want to develop locally to address this government programme is contained within our strategy.
The core requirements for Aiming High for Disabled Children are as follows:
- Access and Empowerment – that services will be more accessible and that children and young people with a disability and their families will be actively involved in the planning and delivery of services in their local areas
- Responsive Services and Timely Support – that professionals involved in developing services will focus on the needs of children & young people with a disability, particularly at key life stages such as early years and transition into adulthood
- Improving Quality and Capacity – the government will make funding available to improve the availability of short breaks. Short breaks includes a wide variety of services including:
- Direct Payments
- After school activities
- Holiday activities
- Leisure activities
- Overnight stays
To find out who is eligible for short breaks, read the short break entitlement criteria (PDF 128KB).
Some of these are already in place but many require further development if we are to meet the requirements of Aiming High and the services that children, young people and their parents tell us they would like to see developed in Walsall.
By 2011 all local authorities will be delivering the core requirements.
Social work service
The social work team is made up of a small number of workers. You can contact them yourself or be referred by someone else such as a doctor, health professional or teacher.
How to get a service
All referrals are taken via a duty system. It is helpful if you or the person referring has as much information about your child as possible. Some cases are relatively straightforward and the duty worker can give advice and information. If it seems that the family does need more than this then the referral will be discussed with the Team Manager and an initial assessment will be carried out.
Families with a higher level of need are likely to be seen first.
Contact
Children with Disabilities Team
Educational Development Centre (EDC)
Pelsall Lane
Rushall
Walsall WS4 1NG
Telephone 01922 686510
Assessment of family
Initial assessment
For an initial assessment the social worker will need to see your child either at home or at school as well as meeting with at least one of the parents. Your child’s views are important so you will be asked to give your consent to these being asked for.
We will arrange a home visit or arrange to meet with you at another location convenient to you. The assessing worker will also agree with you who else should be involved in providing information to help with the assessment. You can of course refuse to give your consent to the worker talking with other professionals involved with you and your child however this may mean that we are unable to arrange any support for you or that the support we can arrange will not be as good as it could be.
After completing the assessment the worker will provide a copy for you and your child and discuss with you how their needs could best be met.
This may include a range of services at home, at school, provided by Walsall NHS or a voluntary sector provider.
Core assessment
If your child needs overnight stays or a complex package of care then the team will undertake a core assessment in order to better understand you family’s needs.
For a core assessment the worker will visit you in your home and ideally see as many of your family as possible. There will also be close liaison with the other professionals involved with your child and family as the assessment will look at how the needs of your disabled child impacts on the whole family. The assessment will look at three areas: your child’s needs. Your own ability and capacity as a parent and your environment and the wider support that is available to you.
After completing the assessment the worker will provide a copy for you and your child and discuss with you how their needs could best be met.
Service or care plan
Any level of assessed need will be followed by a plan which will set out what help your child and family will get, how often and when this help will be reviewed.
The worker will provide a copy of the plan for you and your child.
Carer’s assessment
Parents also have their own needs as carers and you have a right to have these assessed. Many parents are used to putting their children first and not thinking about themselves so it is useful to think about things like:
- What help do you give as a carer?
- What effect does being a carer have upon you?
- what help do you need to help you carer better?
As a carer you may also like to contact Walsall Carers Centre on info@walsallcarers.org who may be able to offer you additional advice and support.
Contact us
Children with Disabilities Team
Educational Development Centre (EDC)
Pelsall Lane
Rushall
Walsall WS4 1NG
Telephone 01922 686510
This page was last updated on 29 January 2010