Social care and community support
Some children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities will also require support from social care.
If the child or young person has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan this may cover their social care needs relating to their Special Educational Needs or disability.
What is social care?
Social care is an umbrella term for a range of services and support that is provided either directly by the Council, or more likely by an outside organisation but has been arranged and funded by the Council.
Social care is NOT just about safeguarding children and adults it is also about helping them to lead fulfilling lives.
It can also provide a wide range of support, such as practical help in the home, respite care and short breaks, home adaptations, travel and other assistance. If you require support from social care, you can ask the Council to assess your child or young person’s social care needs.
The SEND Code of Practice 2015 says:
If children and young people with SEN or disabilities are to achieve their ambitions and the best possible educational and other outcomes, including getting a job and living as independently as possible, local education, health and social care services should work together to ensure they get the right support. (1.22)
Signposting
The following websites are useful places to find information about social care services and provision for children and young people who have SEN or disabilities:
Carer’s assessment
You might not think of yourself as a carer, but being a parent of a child or young person who has SEND can be tiring, stressful, and cause additional pressures such as financial issues and poor mental health.
There is support you may be able to get as an adult caring for a child or young person who has SEND.
Early help
Families First is the term used in Hertfordshire for services that work together to support families who need extra help. These are also known as early help services.
We all experience difficulties at some point. Families First can help you find early help and information to prevent issues from getting worse.
While this is not SEND specific it provides useful information and additional routes of support available outside of social care.
Children’s social care
In Hertfordshire, social care support for children and young people with disabilities is managed by the 0–25 Together service.
To help you decide if the 0-25 Together service can help you, they have published a guide to outline how they meet the social care needs of children and young people with disabilities in Hertfordshire. It explains what support is available, who it is available to and how to access it.
Under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 local authorities have a duty to assess ‘children in need’ for any services they may need.
A ‘child in need‘ assessment under section 17 will identify the needs of the child and ensure that the family are given the appropriate support in enabling them to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
Short breaks
Short breaks offer disabled children and young people the chance to spend time out with others socialising and doing fun activities, giving their families a break and providing them with the confidence their child is well supported by a trained worker.
They include holiday and Saturday clubs, and activities range from canoeing and computers skills to lego.
If you’re not registered for Short Breaks you can register for an account online.
Direct payments
Direct payments are usually for those children who have very complex needs and require specialist support.
They allow parents and young people greater flexibility and control, to employ their own workers at times convenient to them and in the way they wish, to provide an individual service to meet their needs.
You can use your direct payments to pay for a Personal Assistant, who can take your child out to enjoy activities and clubs, support them with life skills, for example preparing for adulthood, or can provide support at home.
Safeguarding
The Council has a legal duty within section 47 of the Children Act 1989 to investigate if they suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
Anyone can make a referral to Children’s Services, including a parent, wider family member, friend, doctor, teacher or health visitor if they are concerned about a child.
Following a referral the Council will then decide whether there should be any action taken to safeguard your child’s welfare.
What if I do not agree with a decision?
If you are not happy about something, there are several ways in which these could be resolved.
Further information
The HPCI website provides a range of useful information on their website regarding getting help with social care, including:
- Short breaks
- Direct payments
- Homecare
- Shared care
- Residential care
You can visit the website to learn more about these.
Get in touch with us
If you can't find what you need, feel free to get in touch with us. Our opening hours are:
- Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 3pm
- Friday from 9.30am to 2pm
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 3 working days.
Other sources of help and support:
Hertfordshire Local Offer
The Local Offer lets parents and young people know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them.
Visit the Local Offer →
Contact
A charity for families with disabled children offering information and advice.
Visit Contact →
HPCI
An independent parent carer organisation ensuring family voices are heard.
Visit the HPCI →
IPSEA
Independent information, advice and support, with free guides, resources and template letters.
Visit IPSEA →