Children with a disability teams
Wiltshire Council’s Children with a Disability Teams (CDTs) provide a service to meet the additional needs of children and young people up to 18 years old and their families. Services for children and young people with disabilities are provided in many different ways, to meet various levels of need. In Wiltshire, there are four different levels of services:
Level 1 – Universal services
The majority of children in Wiltshire use ‘universal services’ because they are for everyone, for example children’s centres, school, GP, health visitors and leisure centres.
Level 2 – Targeted services
Children and young people who have a number of additional needs, which cannot be met through universal services alone, may also need support from a targeted service. A targeted service is specially designed to meet the needs of children and young people with a disability. They will still use universal services, but will benefit from the extra support provided through a targeted service. Examples of targeted provision are bridging projects, a counselling service and short breaks available through the ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children Local Offer’.
To find out more about short breaks available through ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children Local Offer’ go to Wiltshire Parent Carer Council or Ask Wiltshire
If a child or young person requires extra support from a targeted service, the family might find it useful to have a Common Assessment Framework (CAF). The assessment will identify any additional needs and the process will make sure services are working together to support the child and the family in addressing those needs. Families can approach a lead professional working with the family to carry out a CAF. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, you may be able to access targeted services.
To find out more about CAF, please speak to a professional who works with your family, or go to Common Assessment Framework
Level 3 - Targeted specialist services
Children and young people who have higher levels of additional needs, such as complex and profound disabilities, will be supported by services designed to meet their particular needs, known as ‘targeted specialist services’. Services at this level could be provided through the Children with a Disability Teams (CDTs) or through health and mental health services such as Healthy Minds who work closely with specialist ‘Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services’. Such services can include overnight respite care, sitting services and direct payments.
Level 4 - Specialist services
Children and young people whose parents or carers are unable to provide all the care they may need, due to complex health care needs, life threatening conditions, profound disabilities, or children who need safeguarding, may require support from specialist services. Services such as those provided through the Children with a Disability Teams, can include overnight and day medical and nursing care in the child’s home, or hospice based overnight care.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
The role of the OT is to ensure the child or young person has the maximum opportunity to become as independent as possible within their home and that the health of carers and the child or young person is safeguarded by minimising risks. Occupational Therapy is the only service in the Children with a Disability Team which may be available to children and young people who have needs lower than level 3.
The CDTs provide a service, or services, to meet the additional needs of disabled children and young people up to the age of 18 who live in Wiltshire and require support at levels 3 and 4. Families entitled to receive a service from the CDTs will need to meet the following criteria, which we refer to as ‘eligibility criteria’:
- Children, young people and their families whose main need for services arises out of the child’s disabilities or intrinsic condition.
- Where these conditions have a substantial or critical impact on the quality of the child or young person’s life and/or their families.
- When the needs cannot be met by universal or targeted services alone.
In assessing if a family is eligible and ‘in need’ to receive a service at levels 3 or 4, the teams will consider the following factors:
- 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 or young person.
- The effect of disturbed nights on the carer and the family.
- The impact that moving and handling has on the wellbeing of the carer.
- The health of the carer.
- The number of children in the household and their ages and needs.
- Children with disabilities who have severe challenging behaviours which impact on all aspects of the child or young person’s functioning, or which pose a risk to himself, herself, or others.
- Where it is apparent and assessed that the family’s own resources and/or the universal and targeted services have been unable to provide the required level of support.
- Children with disabilities who have recently been subject to a child protection plan and who remain in need of ongoing specialist services.
- Children and young people with disabilities who require support because of their mental health needs, e.g. Healthy Minds.
If you would like to find out more, please contact your local
Children with a disability teams:
| North and East: | South and West: |
|---|---|
|
Bewley House Marshfield Road Chippenham SN15 1JW |
Trowbridge Resource Centre |
| Telephone: 01249 707900 | Telephone: 01225 752198 |
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Last updated: 10 April 2012
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