Social Care Support for Disabled Children
Our aims and objectives for services for disabled children
We aim to ensure that all disabled children are supported to live within their own families. We will provide a quality service to those disabled children most in need. We will promote the inclusion of children who are disabled, or have specific health needs, to access the same opportunities and choices available to all children within their community.
Who is able to receive a service from Children’s Social Care
We work with children and young people up to and including the age of 18 years of age. A specialist team of social workers and community support workers provides a service to children and young people who have significant physical or learning disabilities, complex learning needs and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Services will focus primarily on the needs of the child whilst taking into account the needs of parents and carers and will work together with service users and other agencies.
What we do
We work in partnership with Health, Pupil Assessment & Support Team, WBC Sensory Support Services, WBC Early Years Educational Needs Team, WBC Warrington Education Support Team (WEST), Warrington & Halton Parent Partnership agencies within the voluntary sector such as The Children’s Society, The Butterfly Project, St Joseph’s Family Centre and Warrington Disability Partnership.
We provide support to enable parents to care for their disabled child and we provide information on a range of topics, for example, how to access inclusive and special leisure opportunities.
We will support young people to plan for their future when they leave school. This is called transition planning.
Useful links:
How to access services
If your child is in need of a service or you are in need of advice or support, contact the Access Social Care (ASC) Team who will be able to help and if appropriate, a referral will be made to The Disabled Children’s Team. An assessment of your child and family will be undertaken to assess whether support is needed. We will seek your permission to speak to other people who have a significant role in your child’s life to gain a better picture of your family situation.
Available services
- Support in the home – this can be working alongside parents/carers to care for their child in their own home, or to support a child to enable parents to spend time with other children, or to have a break.
- Outreach support - either on a one-to-one basis or in small groups to enable children and young people to access activities in the community.
- Short break care – either within a residential unit, or with approved carers who provide care for disabled children in their own homes.
- Direct Payments – are a way of arranging services for disabled children and their families.
- Other services – The Disabled Children’s Team has links with other organisations and teams in Warrington that provide other services, such as leisure activities, www.familiesunited.org.uk, Youth Services and the Concessionary Leisure Card Scheme.
The Children’s Services Directory provides information on a range of activities for children.
Assessment
Information about a social work assessment
Common Assessment Framework - Framework for Assessment
Blue Badge Scheme
A Blue Badge can permit parking where it is otherwise restricted.
Direct Payments
Direct Payments are a cash alternative to the services that individuals are eligible to receive from Warrington Borough Council.
Equipment and Adaptations
Advice and/or an assessment for equipment and/or adaptations to help with the daily living at home.
Financial Advice and Assistance
Information about any benefits you and your child might be entitled to and organisations who provide grants to disabled children and their families
Holiday playschemes
Social Care can provide information to help you find a playscheme for your child. The Children’s Services Directory can provide information on this.
Short break care
Requests for planned short breaks for a child or young person with a disability can be considered as part of an overall social work assessment to help and support you in the care of your child and provide them with new experiences.
External websites:
- Contact a Family
- Epilepsy Action
- Mencap
- National Deaf Children’s Society
- NSPCC
- Princess Royal Trust for Carers
- Royal National Institute for the Blind
- Council for Disabled Children
- Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
- The Fragile X Society
- The National Autistic Society
- The Down’s Syndrome Association
- The Children’s Society
- Warrington Children’s Services Directory
Related pages:
- Disabled Children's Service
- Childcare for children with additional needs
- Parent Partnership Service
- Special Educational Needs
- Support to families with children with additional needs
- Medical issues
Contact us:
Access Social Care (ASC)
Tel: 01925 444239
Email: asc@warrington.gov.uk
