Most children with SEND do not require a specialist Social Work service. Their needs are met by universal service or by Early Help. Where a child child’s needs are such that they require a specialist service, a referral can be made through the MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub).
The Children and Young People's Disability team is managed by a Team Manager supported by 2 Assistant Team Managers, one focusing upon children and another upon transition. There are a number of Social Workers and Family Support Workers in the team with a specific focus on children or transition.
If a referral through the MASH meets the required criteria, either a specialist Early Help or a single assessment will take place. The assessment will determine whether support is required. If support is required the Resource Allocation System (RAS) will determine the level of provision that can be provided either directly or through a Direct Payment. This information supports the development of a child in need plan. Either a specialist Social Worker or a specialist Family Support Worker will visit regularly to monitor and review the plan, and if you have chosen to manage your child's Direct Payment account, also to monitor this.
Support is usually provided by way of Short Break hours to enable children and young people with SEND to participate in activities and to provide a break for parents/carers. Overnight Short Breaks are also available for those children and young people with SEND who are assessed as eligible.Although meeting the specialist support needs of children and young people with SEND is the largest area of our work the children and young peoples specialist disability team also works with young people who have SEND and are looked after by the local authority or subject to child protection plans.
The team are based at the 0 to 25 service:
37 Burtons Way
Smiths Wood
Solihull
B36 0UG
Transitions Social Workers are based alongside their colleagues in the specialist Children Children’s Disability Team. Transition is a very important time in the lives of young people with SEND. We are currently working hard to develop our transition pathways. We aim to:
- provide information to young people and their families at age 14.
- Alert Adult Services of a young person who is likely to require transition and support from Adult Social Care in the future.
- Assign a transitions Social Worker at age 17 to work alongside the specialist children children’s worker attend key meetings and familiarise themselves with the young person person’s support plan.
An eligibility assessment will take place and be completed by age 17 and a half. This will clarify whether the young person will be eligible for a service from Adult Social Care around age 18 or not. If the young person is not eligible the transitions worker will continue to support the young person and signpost to other organisations. If the young person is eligible for a service from Adult Social Care the support plan will be developed and the young person will transition to Adult Social Care around their 18th birthday at a time agreed as most appropriate for each individual young person.
Further information for young people can be on the Preparing for Adulthood page.
Solihull’s OVOS website for children and young people in care and care leavers provides information on everything you need to know about being in care and leaving care.
Young people aged 18 and over who have additional needs are entitled to an assessment under a law called the Care Act.
During the assessment the young person will be supported to identify if they have care and support needs. If the young person identifies any care and support needs they will be assisted to develop a plan outlining how those needs can be met. This is called a Care and Support Plan. The plan may include details of support from family and friends, information and advice that has been given and how they will access existing community and universal services.
If the young persons care and support needs are eligible under the Care Act part of the plan may include funding from Adult Social Care to purchase services.
Parents and carers of young people who have care and support needs are also entitled to an assessment and support plan.
You can find out more about carers assessment if you are caring for a child, young person or a person over the age of 18.
Does your child have an additional need or disability?
You are not alone, we are here to help you. We offer a range of free services including:
- Assessments
- Support Planning
- Information and Advice
- Emotional Support
- Activities
- Training
- Carers Card
For further information you can contact the Carers Trust Solihull by calling 0121 788 1143, or email centre@solihullcarers.org
Our Short Breaks Statement sets out the leisure activities and short breaks offered by Solihull Council to children and young people with a disability. It tells you about the range of services available, how to access them and how we consult with parents/carers and children and young people.
Some overnight breaks are taken at Lyndon House, please see the CQC inspection report for Lyndon House.
Details of options short breaks and respite care can be found in the Service Directory
For information about Personal Budgets for children and young people with special education needs and / or disabilities please view the Solihull Council Personal Budgets Factsheet
If the young person receives funding as part of their Care and Support Plan this is called a Personal Budget. You can find out more about personal budgets . If the young person has a personal budget there are a range of services they can purchase to meet their individual needs.
For further information please visit Local Safeguarding Children's Partnership including information on safeguarding and Local Authority Designated Officers (LADO).
If you are unhappy with the service provided by social care or wish to provide any feedback you can contact us via our complaints, compliments and comments page.