3.4 Allocation and Eligibility Criteria

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This document is designed to provide a better understanding of accessing a service from the Children with Disabilities Team (CWDT). It aims to explain the way in which children and young people with disabilities can be supported and (where necessary) protected, so that they may achieve the 'five outcomes of Every Child Matters (ECM) which are to:

Be Healthy;
Stay Safe;
Enjoy and Achieve;
Make a Positive Contribution; and
Achieve Economic Wellbeing.

The 1989 Children Act defines a child in need as:

The child is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision for the child of services by a Local Authority or;
The child's health or development is likely to be significantly impaired or further impaired, without the provision for the child of such services;
The child is disabled.

Ealing Vision for children and young people

"To create a great place for every child and young person to grow up"

Introduction
Assessment and Referral
Levels of Need

1. Introduction

In the London Borough of Ealing children with a disability are regarded as children first and, as children with additional needs, second. Ealing adapts and responds to new legislation and guidance as it is published, current provision for children with disabilities - where it is required over and above that of other children - is primarily developed in accordance with the Children Act 1989, the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, Carers Equal Opportunities Act and their supporting regulations. Where an assessment is required the Local Authority is guided by the Framework for the Assessment of Children In Need and Their Families (2000).

In addition the Local Authority is mindful of the rights and duties afforded by the Equalities Act 2010 and further the intention of that legislation and the European Convention on Human Rights that services be provided in order to promote dignity. (R (A, B, X and Y) v East Sussex CC (2003) EWHC 167 (Admin); (2003) 6 CCLA 194).

Children with a disability are assessed according to the impact any impairment has on their quality of life and that of their family.

Children and young people who are disabled or who have complex health needs will receive coordinated, high quality child and family centred services which are based on assessed needs, which promote social inclusion and enable children with disabilities and families to live ordinary lives.

The majority of children in Ealing who require services will receive them through universal provision within their local community. The same should be true of any child with a disability, however, not all universal services are suitable. When it has been identified, via the Common Assessment that the impact of the child's impairment on their life is too great to be addressed by universal provision, should a referral for an assessment be made to the Children with Disabilities Team.

2. Assessment and Referral

Ealing has developed a system of assessment and referral that has been agreed between Health, Education and Social Care. Some children with a disability may be assessed as needing specialist services other than social care, for example a child who needs support from therapy services. In most cases, where it appears that the child is unlikely to achieve one of the five outcomes without the provision of services other than those all ready available in the community, an assessment will be carried out using the Common Assessment Framework tool, (CAF) there may then follow a more in depth assessment process (Initial and/or Core Assessments) which will enable the Local Authority to develop, in consultation with the child and their family, to make provision for any necessary services for that child to achieve the five outcomes.

3. Levels of Need

The diagram below shows a hierarchy of levels of need with those most in need, that is those suffering the most significant of impairment, being of the highest need. Where it is necessary to meet the assessed need the Local Authority will make that provision.

Levels of Need

Levels of needs

LEVEL 1

UNIVERSAL NEEDS Any Child or Young Person

Most children's needs' (whether or not the child has a disability) will be met at this level. Where a child does have a disability however the Local Authority will have duty to assess their needs, if requested.

LEVEL 2

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE NEEDING ADDITIONAL HELP OF TARGETED SERVICES

Needs at this level will most likely be addressed by work/support with a specialist provider addressing the additional need. These are needs that are not able to be met by the range of universal services available to all children at Level One.

Illustrative Need

Occasionally requires more supervision than children of the same age;
Limited perception of danger to self and others;
With supervision can engage in personal care;
Some behavioural or management difficulties which may require additional;
Advice or guidance;
General health problems;
Speech and language problems.

LEVEL 3

CHILDREN IN NEED OF TARGETED /SPECIALIST SERVICES

Children at this level of need most likely have multiple needs or the impact of their disability affects multiple persons. The assessment of these children will show that services at Level 1 and Level 2 are unable to address the full range of need and to ensure that the child has the opportunity.

These children will sometimes have an allocated social worker who will co-ordinate and review any child in need or care plan for the child. The needs cannot be met by Universal/Targeted services alone. Needs at level 3 will require an assessment by a social worker of a specialist service. Social care and key partner agencies are required to maintain, where possible and appropriate, the child/young person safely within their family and community.

Illustrative need

The family may require a short break for the following reasons:

The impact that trying to meet the additional needs of a disabled child or young person is having on the family as a whole;
Likelihood of family breakdown resulting from the demands of the care, supervision, or behaviour of the child/young person;
Disturbed nights on the carer and their family creating a risk of family breakdown or incapacity to attend to others in the home, work or educational opportunities;
Impact of moving & handling is having a detrimental effect on the carer physical health and/or places them at risk of injury from continuous strain;
Health of the carer is being negatively affected by the demands of caring for a child with disabilities and the carer requires support to mitigate against or prevent the development of ill health;
There are additional children in the home who would benefit from services provided to the child with disabilities or the family to ensure that they do not, themselves, become children in need;
Children with disabilities who have severe challenging behaviours which impact on all aspects of the child/young persons functioning or pose a risk to self or others;
Children with disabilities who have recently been subject to a child protection plan, and who remain in need of ongoing specialist services;
Children/young people with disabilities who require support because of their mental health needs.

Illustrative provision:

Support in the community and at home;
Access specialist services such as Log Cabin;
Buddying services;
Support to access universal services.

LEVEL 4

CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE ACCOMMODATION
CHILDREN IN NEED OF SAFEGUARDING

Children at this level will almost always have had or have a core assessment to address their own and their carers needs. The assessment will result in a plan that is likely to require review and further assessment, in some cases the child may have a care plan and be considered a 'looked after child'. The Children with Disabilities Team provide support, advice and information to families, carers and other professionals who are involved in caring for children whose disability has significant impact on their day-to-day lives.

These children will almost always have an allocated social worker in the Children With Disabilities Team.