the online manual.
Request/need for overnight respite care.
Permanent i.e. the impairment is deemed to be life long and there may be further deterioration or the condition is terminal.
Children with allergies or skin conditions.
In cases where it is the clear assessment that the child will most appropriately receive services from the CCNT then the case should transfer directly to them from Social Care Direct for a Single Assessment to be completed (please see Transfer Protocol for Fieldwork Services).
Where there is some disagreement regarding the appropriateness of the referrals to the CCNT the issue regarding allocation will be decided by the respective Service Managers.
All children who meet the criteria for the Complex Care Needs Team will receive a Single Assessment of their need for services, which will be completed within 45 working days from the point of referral.
The Single Assessment will be carried out in consultation with the family, using information from other professionals as appropriate. It is the impact the disability has on daily living that is a key part of the assessment.
Where the Single Assessment identifies the need for a Carer's Assessment, this will also be carried out by the Complex Care Needs Team. A Carer's Alert Card will also be processed in consultation with the parents/carers.
Other additional specialist assessments will also be commissioned as necessary.
If information is received or concerns are identified regarding a child already known to the Complex Care Needs Team or a child who meets the team's criteria which indicate that the child is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm a Strategy Meeting/discussion will be held between the SCD Manager, Police Decision Maker, and the allocated SW/Team Manager from the CCNT. The JIT will undertake all Section47 investigations on children and young people that are not open cases to the CCNT. This intervention will be in accordance with the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding Children Boards Procedures, in particular Abuse of Disabled Children.
The Joint Investigation Team will work with the CCNT in order to ensure that the Section47 investigation considers the specific needs of disabled children and the impact of the disability on the child/young person's ability to communicate and the child's specific vulnerabilities.
The CCNT can provide advice on the specific needs of the child and the most appropriate manner in which to pursue the enquires and undertake the investigation.
If a Section47 investigation arises on a child whom is already an open case to the CCNT, the Social Worker/Team Manager from the CCNT will liaise with the SCD and the JIT to determine how the Section47 will be undertaken. This will be discussed and agreed via the Strategy Meeting/discussion.
Application of clear safeguarding standards and procedures.
Knowledge of established relationships with other agencies working with disabled children.
Following the Section47 investigation the case will usually be allocated to the CCNT. The CCNT will determine the most appropriate course of action as advised following the completion of the Section47 investigation. This may lead to a child being made the subject of a Child Protection Plan.
The CCNT will be responsible for implementing the Child Protection Plan for both the child allocated to the team and any other non-disabled child(ren) also living at the same household so as to minimise the number of professionals working with any particular family.
The CCNT will also be responsible for managing all Legal Proceedings relating to any children allocated to the team and their siblings where they reside in the same household. This will include all assessments, Care Plans and reports in respect of any private and public law processes.
As and when a child with a disability becomes a looked after child, the CCNT will remain the allocated team until case management responsibility transfer to either the Leaving Care Team or Adults Services as per the Transition Planning process.
The outcome of the EHC Panel will be confirmed through a written panel decision to the referrer.
Under Section 17 Children Act 1989, in which case they are not looked after children, the 2010 Regulations do not apply and there is no requirement to appoint an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). A Child in Need Plan is required in accordance with the Assessment Framework. Reviews should be carried out at least every 6 months and more often if required.
Under Section 20 Children Act 1989, with short breaks of not more than 17 days each in the same setting and where the total number of placement days does not exceed 75 days in any 12 month period. In these circumstances, the child is looked after, an IRO must be appointed, and a Short Break Care Plan drawn up. The 2010 Regulations are modified (Regulation 48), so that Looked After Reviews and Social Work Visits are less frequent and the short breaks are treated as a single placement.
Under Section 20 Children Act 1989, where the short breaks exceed a total of 17 days per placement/75 days per 12 month period and/or take place in more than one setting. In these circumstances, the child is looked after, an IRO must be appointed and a Care Plan drawn up. The 2010 Regulations apply in full, including the provisions on frequency of Looked After Reviews and Social Work Visits.
The legal basis on which services are provided should be clear. The decision to provide a short break under Section 17 or under Section 20 should be informed by the assessment of the child's needs and should take account of parenting capacity and wider family and environmental factors, the wishes and feelings of the child and his/her parents and the nature of the service to be provided.
Visits should usually be undertaken by a qualified social worker and always by a person with the skills and experience to communicate effectively with the child and fulfil the functions of the visit.
Subsequent visits must take place at intervals of no more than 3 months for as long as the short breaks continue.
Visits should take place at regular intervals to be agreed with the Independent Reviewing Officer and parents/person(s) with Parental Responsibility and recorded in the Short Break Care Plan before the start of the first placement.
Subsequent visits must take place at intervals of no more than 3 months for as long as the short breaks continue.
Thereafter, at intervals of no more than 4 weeks.
The CCNT are committed to ensure that young people and their families are assisted to make a smooth and timely transition from Children's Services to Adult Services and agree plans for services post 18 years.
The CCNT have the equivalent of 2.5 full time Transition social workers in the team. The CCNT will determine which young people would be appropriate for co-working.
This would generally be those young people with an identified disability with an Education Health and Care plan and whom is likely to be eligible for adult services going forward due to the complexity of their needs. Not all young people with an EHCP would meet this criteria.
This is likely to be when a young person is approaching their 16th birthday, though if appropriate in specific circumstances it may be sooner and at the latest by the time the young person is 17 years old, and it is felt that services may be required.
It should be noted that Adult Services operate their own eligibility criteria based on the Care Act (2014) and unmet needs.
Where the child is ordinarily resident in another local authority area then the CCNT should refer to the Adult Services within the relevant local authority.
All young people eligible for services from Adult Services will be transferred when the young person reaches 18 years old if not in education or may remain with the transition worker up to 25 years if they meet the service criteria and an Education Health and Care plan remains in place. A young person would transition to Adult Services when the EHCP ceases and/ or an appropriate adult care package is established and reviewed ( normally after 6 weeks of commencing the package).
These services are provided by the Children's Occupational Therapy teams based at both Pinderfields and Pontefract General Hospitals.
The Children's Occupational Therapy Team provided a community based occupational therapy service to children with disabilities, their carers and families. This is done by assessing the functional needs of the child in their home environment. Daily living equipment can be provided where appropriate to aid independence and to support carers. The team also assesses needs which arise from housing situations and can facilitate housing adaptations.
Parents of children with disability and the child (depending of their age and level of understanding) will be given information about the Disability Register. The Disability Register is managed and maintained by WESAIL (Wakefield's Early Support Advice and Information Line).
Services/support you can access without an Assessment.
Carer's Alert Cards are available for all carers and ensure that plans are in place in the case of an emergency. (Ring WeSail).
Where children and young people need more specialist support an assessment of need and a care and support plan will be undertaken with the parent carer and child/ young person by an agreed LA officer (e.g. Early Help Hubs, Complex Care Needs Team).
This will then be submitted to the Education Health and Care Panel for a decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Contact your social worker, Social Care Direct (0345 8 503 503), the Family Information Service on (0800 587 8042) or WeSail (01924 379015).
