The children with disabilities team work with children and young people aged 0 to 18 who have severe and profound disabilities, life limiting conditions that affect learning or physical development that have a major impact on their quality of life. Children and young people who require support over and above what is available through universal and community organisations.
We are a team manager, three practice supervisors and 15 social workers who deliver a county wide social care service to children and families.
Social workers specialise in working with children and young people who have difficulties with communicating and a range of disability needs. They use a wide range of different communication aids and skills to ensure the child remains the focus and that their voice is heard.
The children with disability team work to the same statutory requirements as other social work teams. Each team undertakes assessments, safeguarding and case management activities.
In line with statutory safeguarding procedures and investigations, the team work directly with children who need help and protection and those subject to care proceedings. They also work with children who are children in care by the local authority.
Our principles are:
- disabled children and young people should enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other children.
- all disabled children and young people have the right to be heard and the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making.
- the views of children and young people are vital to the development of services
- all children to be safeguarded
Early intervention support and prevention
Our aim is to help build resilience within families, to support them to care for their children and to remain in their community.
- assessments that are outcome focused and look at long term planning and transition.
- recognition of impact for carers
- preparation for adulthood
Universal Provision
We are committed to ensuring children with disabilities or sensory impairments can access positive experiences and families can get the support they need within universal provision.
The majority of children in Lincolnshire who require services will receive them through universal provision within their local community. The same should be true of any child with a disability.
Universal provision, for example, sports clubs, youth clubs, libraries and children’s centres are really important in ensuring children and young people with disabilities have fun and enjoy themselves with friends, just like all children and young people.
Sources of support
Carers assessments- is for someone who looks after a relative or child who is frail, disabled or seriously ill. You will have a friendly conversation with someone who understands the caring role. It's an opportunity to consider your own wellbeing and your own needs, and to think about what support you might need
How and when to make a referral
The children with disabilities team accept referrals from parents and professionals working with children and young people who have a diagnosed disability that meets the criteria of severe and profound.
Parents may prefer to speak to a professional who they know.
The professional can refer the child or young person to the customer services team. The referrals are screened; if they meet the eligibility criteria of severe and profound and requires the involvement of a specialist team.
Then the child or young person will then be allocated a social worker from the children with disabilities team, who will be in contact to meet the child or young person and their family to begin the child and family assessment.
The child and family assessment is used to decide whether a child or young person under 18, is eligible for social care support services.
The children with disabilities team have adopted the signs of safety as the basis of their work with children and families and across all partner agencies engaged in providing services for children in Lincolnshire.
Signs of safety is a strength based, solution focused model which looks identifying the strengths and needs of children, young people and their families. The model considers the level of need of children and young people and what support is available. The assessment will review the support needs of parent carers and any other children in the family who provide care through a young carers assessment.
The assessment considers whether the child is eligible to receive a social care service or if universal services are needed to meet the needs of the child/ young person. Parents are also encouraged to have their parent carer needs assessed via a carers assessment.
The social workers within the children with disabilities teams work in partnership with other service providers including health, schools, education and the voluntary sector to ensure a holistic package of support is agreed to meet the assessed needs.
It is recognised the needs of a disabled child and their family change from time to time. There will be times when more support is needed, therefore, all care plans and packages of support are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the level of provision is right and the child is making positive progress.
If a child or young people and their families are able to meet their own support needs, they are encouraged and supported to do so. A social work assessment is not required. There are a wide range of directly accessible services and sources of support which are listed above but can also be accessed via the Local Offer pages.