Social
Social care provision for disabled children can be a complex matter, there is no set provision for a particular need but instead it is outcome based. Provision needed to meet a set outcome may vary depending on individual circumstances. The resources below show the process by which social care packages are determined, and the factors that should be born in mind when determining the level of support needed. There is information relating to the general legal position, the process for assessment of need, and information relating to specific circumstances or need. This information may be considered alongside the section on Children's Continuing Care
in case there is a duty on the NHS to provide these services, and with the section on Personal Budgets
as an alternative to commissioned services.
All content on this website is to enable parents to have access to the information they need to make their own decisions and is not advice. None of the information is original, this is collated documents freely available on the web and links are provided to show the original source and author of each item where possible.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the rights for family carers to have short breaks from their caring roles.
An Article by barrister Steve Broach explaining the legal duties on Local Authorities to assess and meet the needs of disabled children.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about how changes in legislation effect the legal basis for duties to disabled children
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the duties to disabled children from the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
Guidelines for the process to be followed by Local Authorities when assessing children in need. This document should be complied with unless exceptional circumstances arise.
Supplementary guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children to assist social workers who suspect that a child's illness may be fabricated or induced.
Departmental advice setting out how agencies and professionals should work together to safeguard the welfare of disabled children.
The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need (DoH 2000) is to be used by Children’s Services for the assessment of all Children in Need, including those in Need of Protection. The Framework is statutory guidance issued under Section 7 of The Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. The Assessment Framework provides a systematic basis for collecting and analysing information to support professional judgments about how to help children and families in the best interests of the child. The Framework is to be used for the assessment of all Children in Need, including those in Need of Protection. The assessment process determines whether a referral should be responded to only as a Child in Need of support (Section 17, Children Act 1989) or additionally as a Child in Need of Protection (Section 47, Children Act 1989).
In some areas the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) has been replaced by a Single Assessment Framework (SAF) so that that families don’t have to experience multiple assessments undertaken by a wide variety of professionals.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the duty on Local Authorities to help make sure some disabled children are able to access holidays.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the duty for sufficient childcare to be available for parents of Disabled Children.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs on the rights of siblings of disabled Children.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs on the duty to assess the needs of parent carers introduced by the Children and Families Act 2014.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the duties to children in care.
Barrister Steve Broach blogs about the duties to house looked after children close to home, including being housed at home with support where suitable.
An article by the Short Break Partnership providing legal guidance and an introduction to short breaks.
An Article by the Short Break Partnership providing legal guidance on how short breaks fit into the local offer introduced by the Children and Families Act 2014.
An article by the Short Break Partnership providing legal guidance as to how a short break can be provided by means of a personal budget.
An article by the Short Break Partnership providing legal guidance as to when short break services for complex children become the responsibility of the NHS rather than the local authority.
Advice from Contact a Family on social care assessments to enable your family at access short breaks.
Advice from Contact a family on how to access short breaks.
