3.6 Short Break Statement

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter sets out the policies and procedures for Short Break Placements. It was reviewed and updated in September 2011.

1.	Short Breaks Services Statement
2.	Introduction and Background
3.	Consultation with Parents and Young People about Services for Children with Disabilities
	3.1	Integration and Inclusion
	3.2	Prevention and Early Intervention
	3.3	Independence and Choice
	3.4	Participation and Partnership
	3.5	Efficient and Effective use of Resources
	3.6	Safeguarding
4.	The Current Position on Short Breaks in Ealing
	4.1	Definition of a Short Break
	4.2	The Range of Short Break Provision currently available in Ealing
	4.3	Criteria
	4.4	The Local Offer
	Appendix 1: The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011
	Appendix 2: Children With Disabilities Team (Social Care) - Allocation and Eligibility Criteria

1. Short Breaks Services Statement

How our statement is prepared

This Short Breaks Services statement has been drafted using information from parents and carers, children, young people and professionals from social care, health, education and the voluntary sector gathered over the course of the Aiming High for Disabled Children Short Break Transformation programme.

The statement will be presented to the Children with Disabilities Partnership Board to agree and publish by October 2011. This Board has representation from the voluntary sector, parents and a wide range of professionals across a range of specialist services provided by health and the council.

What is it for?

The statement will form the basis of our commissioning plans for short break services for the year 2012/13 and beyond. In other words it will ensure that we 'buy and provide' the range of short breaks that families value and need. Parents, children with disabilities and young people will continue to be fully involved in this process and will help us monitor the quality of all of our short breaks and help decide what we change and what we keep.

Publication and Review

We will ensure our Short Breaks Service Statement is published on the Local Authority website by 1 October 2011. In addition, it will be made available in all of our Special schools, in our Additionally Resourced Bases in mainstream schools and a copy will also be given to the SENCOs in all of Ealing's schools. It will also be available on the Ealing Help website.

The statement will be reviewed annually to make sure that it is 'up to the minute' reflecting all the views and choices of local families. We will use on-going consultation to make changes and improvements and to ensure our short breaks continue to reflect the needs of all the different families living in Ealing who have children with disabilities.

Who is responsible?

The lead officers responsible for preparing this statement are - Debbie Grey and Ghazala Sheikh, Joint Assistant Directors, Ealing Service for Children with Additional Needs, who report to Judith Finlay, Director Children & Families.

2. Introduction and Background

This information is for families living in the London Borough of Ealing who have a disabled child, or child with additional needs, aged 0 to 18 years. It describes the process agreed by Ealing Council to prepare and publish our statement of short break services and how to access them. (When a young person reaches their 18th Birthday, if eligible, short breaks would be provided by adult services).

The term 'disabled' is used generically in this statement to include additional needs as well as complex health needs.

The Children Act 1989, Paragraph 6 of Schedule 2, requires local authorities to provide a short break service designed to assist individuals who provide care for children with disabilities. The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011 (see Appendix 1: The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011), requires each local authority to produce a short breaks services statement so that families know:

What services are available;
The eligibility criteria for these services; and
How the range of short breaks is designed to meet the local needs of families with children with disabilities.

Ealing Council is committed to:

"Working to make Ealing a community in which all children with disabilities, young people and their families can play a full part and reach their potential"

By providing children with disabilities and their parents/carers with Short break services, Ealing Council aims to ensure that families with children with disabilities have the support they need to live 'ordinary lives' as a matter of course. Children with disabilities and their families have the same human rights as others, including the right to the same quality of life as those who do not live with disability. However we recognise that all families are different, and families in Ealing come from a range of diverse backgrounds, so they will need different levels of support and different types of short breaks depending on the age of their child; some families may need more support because of their family circumstances, this may be for a short period of time or it may be for longer.

It is also important to note that whilst we know that both local and national research demonstrates that short breaks are a priority for families with children with disabilities they should be delivered as part of a much broader package of family support services. All recent research indicates the need for 'early intervention' - families should not be kept waiting in a vacuum, with no knowledge of what services are available, or how they can access them.

Ealing Council via Ealing Service for Children with Additional Needs (ESCAN) are working with the parent forum and all our partners to ensure that all families with children with disabilities have timely and regular access to advice, guidance and information.

3. Consultation with Parents and Young People about Services for Children with Disabilities

In 2010, Ealing Council commissioned two independent consultants to conduct a consultation with children with disabilities and young people and their parents/carers to find out their views and ideas about services for children with disabilities and young people in Ealing. A report of the findings, 'Consultation on a disabled children strategy 28/11/10', is available on request.

The consultation found that:

Children who currently engage in short breaks mostly enjoy them. Children and young people who were consulted were clear that they wanted more choice, and to be able to try a range of sports and other activities in holidays, after school and weekends and in a range of locations - at school, in specialist groups such as Deaf youth groups, in inclusive or specialist youth groups, in a range of days out and holidays with other youngsters or with their families. They would like more choice in overnight activities; some enjoyed the opportunities provided by their schools such as Springhallow's sleepovers, and by Heller House, but some would like adventure and activity holidays such as PGL and camping;
When asked what further opportunities for short breaks they would like to see provided and given a range of possibilities, the largest number of respondents said they would like to have some additional services, with over half (56%) wanting their child to have support to take part in play & leisure activities. There was strong support also for individual grants (41%); Direct Payments (39%), support in the home (38%), family based overnight breaks (35%) and opportunities for camping or other holidays away (35%).

short breaks

The Ealing Strategy for Disabled Children, Young People and their Families (including those with complex health care needs) 2011 to 2014, lists a number of 'Priorities for Action' for the next three years. These are:

3.1 Integration and Inclusion

Increase the range of play and leisure facilities and activities:

Ensure that children and young people with SEN are able to be educated locally wherever possible;
Improve clarity of referral and eligibility criteria for specialist services and reduce delay in access to appropriate services;
Workforce development to ensure that all staff have the level of understanding and knowledge they need so that children with disabilities and young people are fully included. Roll-out of disability awareness training;
Increase the number of childminders who are confident to look after children with additional needs;
Further develop a continuum of services for children and young people with ASD.

3.2 Prevention and Early Intervention

Development of preventative services to enable children and young people to live at home and be educated locally;
Develop local health services in line with the integrated care organisation;
Review of specialist nursing services;
Voluntary sector services to support and promote early intervention;
Provide family support for sleep issues and challenging behaviours;
Develop the use of CAF and the Lead Professional role to ensure multi-agency assessments are timely and coordinated;
Review of implementation of continuing care framework.

3.3 Independence and Choice

Introduce Individual Budgets in line with national strategy;
Further develop person centred planning across schools;
To ensure that the transition to adult services takes place in a timely and coordinated manner and that young people are at the centre of service planning;
Implement age-appropriate short break services, particularly for 16-18 year olds;
Increase access to education, employment and training post school.

3.4 Participation and Partnership

Establish Children with disabilities's Partnership Board;
Promote and support young people's and parental participation at all levels;
Ensure families and young people have adequate and transparent information and signposting;
Implement the Short Break Duty (strengthen care planning and publish range of short breaks);
Support for Ealing Parents Forum.

3.5 Efficient and Effective use of Resources

Ensure short break services are procured efficiently with agreed outcomes;
Promote the inclusion of young people with additional needs within universal services;
Develop a graduated system of support based on assessed needs;
Review demand and usage of overnight short break provision across the total market and inform short, medium and long-term strategy planning;
Initiate fair parental contribution to short break services;
Build lifelong independence skills, including independent travel.

3.6 Safeguarding

Prioritise safeguarding of children with disabilities, by ensuring robust Child Protection Systems across all provision;
Ensure that all staff across the children's workforce are aware of the heightened vulnerability of children with disabilities to abuse and risk and take appropriate action;
Ealing Safeguarding Children's Board to support and oversee the Children with disabilities's Safeguarding subgroup and deliver the action plan.

During the Summer of 2011 the above priorities were reviewed with Ealing Parent's Forum to agree the key areas to develop into an action plan for 2011/12. This action plan will be overseen by the Children with Disabilities Partnership Board

4. The Current Position on Short Breaks in Ealing

In order to understand how best to proceed with the development of a Short Break Services statement it is important to consider how services have developed and what services are currently available.

4.1 Definition of a Short Break

Short breaks are preventative, family support services that can also enhance children with disabilities and young people's personal, social and emotional development. They form part of the wider package of support available to children with disabilities and their families.

"Short breaks provide opportunities for children with disabilities and young people to spend time away from their primary carers. These include day, evening, overnight or weekend activities and take place in the child's own home, the home of an approved carer, a residential or community setting.

Short breaks can be provided by local authorities through the use of their powers under:

Section 17(6) of the 1989 Act, which grants local authorities a power to provide accommodation as part of a range of services in order to discharge their general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need;
The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970 which enables the local authorities to assesses short breaks, home care, recreational or leisure facilities that are necessary for a disabled child; and
Section 20(4) of the 1989 Act, which grants local authorities a power to provide accommodation 'for any child within their area (even though a person who has parental responsibility for him is able to provide him with accommodation) if they consider that to do so would safeguard or promote the child's welfare'.

Short breaks occur on a regular and planned basis and should be part of an integrated programme of support, which is regularly reviewed. No short break single placement should last more than 17 days and the total of short breaks in one year should not exceed 75 days. (Different procedures apply if breaks exceed these time frames as the child would be considered 'looked after' by the authority)

Short break services are additional services required to support children with disabilities and their families: in other words, short breaks are services over and above the universal services expected and available to all families". (Taken from 'Definition of short Breaks' - Together for Disabled Children, October 2008)

Short breaks range from supporting children with disabilities and young people to access universal, mainstream services through to providing specialist services at local level. Consideration is given to the needs of the child and family, including cultural, linguistic and religious needs.

Short break services are commissioned jointly or separately by the statutory sector and are provided by a range of agencies to include, local authorities, health providers, voluntary, private or independent sector organisations.

4.2 The Range of Short Break Provision currently available in Ealing

The range of short break provision on offer locally is described below.

Universal Services and Inclusion

Universal services, for example leisure centres and sporting activities, libraries, playgrounds, extended school activities and youth clubs, are really important in ensuring children with disabilities and young people have fun and enjoy themselves with friends, just the same as other children and young people.

Ealing's goal is to ensure that that more children with disabilities and young people are included in mainstream, universal, community and leisure settings. Genuine inclusion means services, which are designed and equipped to enable children with disabilities and young people to enjoy the same activities and opportunities as non-disabled children. We will of course ensure that all children and young people have access to the most appropriate short break, it is recognised that children with disabilities may require one to one support to access inclusive services.

Examples of universal/inclusive services & initiatives:

The Log Cabin Children's Centre facilities, Northfields Avenue;
Investment in an eLearning training programme aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of all service providers (universal and specialist) in working with and supporting children with disabilities. We want to ensure that they have the skills to support all children with disabilities and young people - irrespective of need - to attend any club or activity of their choice, be it drama, dance, sport or any other activity;
Specialist Information Officer post located in the Family Information Service to ensure that children with disabilities and their families have access to information, early support and good quality childcare;
Extreme Ability Sports Programme.

We will continue to identify further venues, utilising existing play and children's centres, youth and extended schools provision to maximise the opportunities for inclusive activities throughout the borough. This will reduce the need for costly transport and ensure the delivery of more 'local' provision.

Targeted services

Whilst Universal services are important, it is recognised that some children with disabilities and young people will need additional support to access them, or may need to access groups or services that are specifically designed to meet their needs. Targeted services require an assessment by a professional and are provided on the basis of need. Examples of targeted services include:

Befriending/ Buddying
Befriending services take the form of a one to one relationship that enables a child or young person to access a range of community or leisure activities. A befriender can be a volunteer or a paid worker;
Sitting /sessional worker services
This is care that takes place in the child's home and /or out and about in the community. It may, in some instances. allow for siblings to be looked after at the same time as the disabled child, depending on the children's age and supervision needs. Sitters are employees either of the LA or of a private or voluntary agency. Overnight sitting may be provided in certain circumstances;
Overnight and day care with short break foster carers or salaried carers
These are carers who are approved as foster carers (Family Link Carers/Short Break Carers) by a Fostering Panel and can provide day care and overnight stays to a child in the carer's home. They can be approved for 1 - 3 or more 'link' children who stay with the carer at different times, mainly at weekends and sometimes holiday periods;
Residential services
This can include residential units run by the local authority, the independent sector or health services, as well as hospices. It also includes special schools that may offer overnight stays to their students as part of their 24-hour curriculum. Residential services may offer overnight care, day care and outreach support to families;

Residential services cater primarily for children who are more difficult to place in family based settings. This may include children who require moving and handling, children who require invasive clinical procedures and those with severely challenging behaviour;
Therapeutic short breaks
An intensive package of short term clinical psychology support, behavioural intervention and short breaks, to support families with a child or young person with severe learning difficulties and severe challenging behaviours, to prevent family breakdown and minimise the need for the child or young person to be accommodated or go into a residential placement;
Direct Payments
Direct payments are a means of arranging short break services that give families the flexibility and control to decide how to meet their particular needs. A person with parental responsibility for the disabled child or young person is given money to purchase their own services rather than relying on the local authority to arrange it.
A Direct Payment is given instead of a service.

4.3 Criteria

Which children and young people can be considered for short breaks funded by Children & Families?

A child or young person aged 0-18th birthday and living in the London Borough of Ealing; AND
A child or young person with a disability that has a significant effect on their ability to carry our normal day-to-day activities. This includes children who have a severe sensory, learning or physical disability, a social and communication disorder or complex medical needs; OR
Children and young people with a mild or moderate learning disability who experience loss or limitation of opportunity to take an appropriate part in the life of the community on an equal level;
Young People with disabilities aged 18 years and above who need specialist short breaks are subject to adult services criteria. (There is a protocol between adult and children's services to assist the transition process).

Our eligibility for services is based on the following principles:

Promoting the health, safety and well being of children with disabilities and young people, ensuring they can fully participate in family and community life, enjoying themselves with friends and making decisions about their lives;
Preventing family crises through the provision of the right level of support at the right time;
The need to be fair, clear and equitable.

How services are accessed

In the first instance discuss your child's needs with a professional or a voluntary sector worker who already knows you/your child as they may be able to direct you to the appropriate short break or arrange the provision directly.

Not all children and families will need the same level of support and short breaks; some will need more than others because of the nature of their child's disability and its severity. Some families may need more support because of their individual family circumstances. This is why we may need to assess your child and family to ensure we provide the right level of support and short breaks at the right time.

4.4 The Local Offer

Following the consultation via our Parent Forum and with our young people, it has been agreed that all eligible families should receive Ealing's 'Local Offer', a minimum level of short break support services. The aim of our local offer is to encourage inclusion and support children's access to mainstream services.

This local offer is provided without assessment to children who meet clearly defined eligibility criteria, as above. They do not need to be referred by a professional.

Ealing Council funded a number of services and providers who offer support to children with additional needs and their families as our local offer. This includes holiday activities and play schemes, after school and extended school activities, some special school overnight stays, sports and swimming sessions, Youth and Connexions Services/clubs e.g. W13 Club, Mencap Gateway clubs, Extreme Ability sports programme.

As with provision for non-disabled children, the providers of the activities listed above may make a charge to parents.

For example, for a school age, child we will ensure access to a holiday play scheme during the main school holidays. This is because parents and children have told us that holiday activities are a priority. However we know that there will be some young people who may not want group activities so we will discuss with you how we can support you through another short break, for example, assessing whether your child's needs would be best met through a specialist short break service or by providing a Direct Payment.

The following is what you should be able to access without an assessment:

Mencap Clubs;
Ealing Crossroads;
W13 Youth Club;
Log Cabin Adventure Playground (specialist provision can also be funded via an assessment);
Specialist and mainstream holiday play schemes;
A small grant payment during the summer holidays if your child has complex needs and cannot access specialist playscheme/activities;
Specialist sport sessions for young people with disabilities aged 14 yrs and over eg swimming, kayaking, powerchair football, wheelchair basketball, multi-sports sessions, indoor wall climbing;
Extended schools activities and other play provision.

Additional Specialist Short Breaks

Some families may require additional specialist provision. We want to make sure that those families with the highest levels of need have access to appropriate support and that services are available across the Borough irrespective of age, race, religion, gender, or nature of impairment.

To receive additional specialist services you will need an assessment, which will address your child's needs as well as your needs as a carer and those of your family. This assessment can be undertaken by any one of a range of professionals that knows the child. The professional (e.g. therapist, or key worker) will need to complete a Common Assessment Framework Form and liaise with the Children with Disabilities Social care Team. Alternatively a social worker would complete an Initial or Core Assessment. For some of the more specialist provision, practitioners such as clinical psychologists or continuing care nurse practitioners will be involved in assessing the child's needs and recommending the appropriate service or additional support required.

There are many things we will discuss with you when assessing the specialist support your child need. Here are some of them:

The severity of your child's disability, how it impacts on their life and your family life;
If you have more than one disabled child;
The number of other children or caring responsibilities you may have;
If you or a partner have a disability;
If you have limited support within your social/family network;
If a child is 'cared for' by the Local Authority or adopted;
If there are concerns about a child or young person's safety.

More information about how your family will be assessed and the criteria for accessing specialist support is detailed in the 'CHILDREN WITH DISABILITES TEAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA' DOCUMENT (Appendix 2).

Services at this additional level could include those listed under 'Targeted Services'.

Information is also available:

On the London Borough of Ealing website;
On the specialist website, Ealing help;
In the 'Additional Needs Handbook' (PESTS Booklet);
At the Family Information Service - telephone no 020 8825 5588.

Transport

We know that transporting a child to and from their short break can be an issue for some families. Ealing Council/NHS Ealing finance some providers to enable them to transport children to & from their short break. Other providers have their own transport to assist children to access their break. The Council is also working with schools, parents and Mencap to ensure that wherever possible children are assisted to travel independently via the travel training programme.

In instances where it is not possible for a parent to transport a child (using either their own or public transport) or where a child is unable to travel independently a social care assessment of the child's needs may be offered to consider what assistance may be given to ensure the child can access the short break.

Measuring Impact

We will ensure that our short break services focus on improving the life chances of children with disabilities and their families through continuing to develop our strategy with parents and young people. We know that the views of families, both parents and children are essential for future success. We will therefore ensure our parent forums and children's consultation forums are supported and developed.

We will ensure that all the short breaks we provide make a positive difference to our young people. We will ask ourselves the 'so what' question - 'so what if we provide children with disabilities with an activity club at the weekend what difference will that make?' Answer - 'it will provide the children with an opportunity to meet and play with their friends, to have fun and to become more independent. It will provide their mums and dads with a chance to spend time with their other children, to do the shopping or simply to have a break!'

We will continue to measure children's satisfaction; parental satisfaction and staff confidence and skill in meeting the needs of children with disabilities in a variety of short break settings.

We will continue to monitor and record the views of children, parents and staff so everybody feels involved and supported and to ensure we develop a cycle of continual improvement.

We will identify further venues - play and children's centres, youth and extended schools to maximise the opportunities for inclusive activities throughout the borough, to reduce the need for transport and ensure delivery of more 'local' provision.

Choice

If the Local Offer does not fully meet your child's needs, you can request an assessment to be undertaken by the Children with Disabilities Social Care Team. If needs are identified families will be offered the opportunity to have a direct payment in place of a direct service. All families can of course request an assessment anytime or re-assessment if they feel their child's needs have changed.

Appendix 1: The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011

Made 2011

The Secretary of State for Education makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989(1). In accordance with section 104(3A) of that Act, a draft of these Regulations was laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2010 and come into force on 1st April 2011.

Interpretation

In these Regulations-

"The 1989 Act" means the Children Act 1989;
"Carer" means a person who provides care for a disabled child and who is-

The child's parent; or
A person who is not the child's parent but who has parental responsibility for that child; and

"Disabled" has the meaning given in section 17(11) of the 1989 Act (2).

Duty to make provision

In performing their duty under paragraph 6(1)(c) of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act (3), a local authority must-

Have regard to the needs of those carers who would be unable to continue to provide care unless breaks from caring were given to them; and
Have regard to the needs of those carers who would be able to provide care for their disabled child more effectively if breaks from caring were given to them to allow them to-
1. Undertake education, training or any regular leisure activity;
2. Meet the needs of other children in the family more effectively; or
3. Carry out day-to-day tasks, which they must perform in order to run their household.

Types of services, which must be provided

4. (1) In performing their duty under paragraph 6(1)(c) of Schedule 2 to the 1989 Act, a local authority must provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, a range of services which is sufficient to assist carers to continue to provide care or to do so more effectively.

(2) In particular, the local authority must provide, as appropriate, a range of-

Day-time care in the homes of children with disabilities or elsewhere;
Overnight care in the homes of children with disabilities or elsewhere;
Educational or leisure activities for children with disabilities outside their homes; and
Services available to assist carers in the evenings, at weekends and during the school holidays.

Short breaks services statement

5. (1) A local authority must, by 1st October 2011, prepare a statement for carers in their area (a "short breaks services statement") setting out details of-

The range of services provided in accordance with regulation 4;
Any criteria by which eligibility for those services will be assessed; and
How the range of services is designed to meet the needs of carers in their area.

(2) The local authority must publish their short breaks services statement, including by placing a copy of the statement on their website.

(3) The local authority must keep their short breaks services statement under review and, where appropriate, revise the statement. (This process will be overseen by the Children with Disabilities Partnership Board).

(4) In preparing and revising their statement, the local authority must have regard to the views of carers in their area.

Appendix 2: Children With Disabilities Team (Social Care) - Allocation and Eligibility Criteria

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"

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.

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.

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.