Referrals and assessments for support and care

After your assessment, if it is agreed that you need support, a support plan will be developed with you.

Your plan may include:

• Supporting your child / young person to access universal and, where necessary, targeted services
• Thinking about who can deliver support and care
• Packages of support or care to support your child / young person and your family
• Thinking about Direct Payment and Personal Budget options

Support packages

Support packages are unique to every child / young person.

They can range from supporting access to an activity, through to providing a Personal Assistant. 

The need for a support package will be assessed and reviewed through the Children's Disability Team.

You may have ongoing contact with the team, depending on the outcome of the assessment.

Support and care can be provided through the Council, or by independent providers.

Approving your support package

Services provided to your child / family will not be looked at individually, but as part of a package of care and support that meet the needs of your child / young person.

The needs of your child / young person will be the focus of all decisions.

• A copy of the assessment will be presented to the panel, with a report and funding request
• The report will describe the assessed needs of your child / young person and your family, and the level of service needed to support these needs
• A breakdown of specific costs will be included
• Your social worker or allocated practitioner will attend the panel to help to explain your child and family's circumstances

Your support package and any funding needs must be approved either by the Children's Disability Team Resource Panel, or the Complex Case Panel.

Children's Disability Resource Panel

For most children with disabilities who are eligible for a support package, the Children's Disability Resource Panel will review your assessment and agree the support package for your child / young person and your family, as well as any funding required.

Complex Case Panel

If your child / young person has complex, additional and exceptional care needs, it is likely they will also have unique health and education needs.

A team made up of different agencies and professionals will look at your child / young person's needs. This is the Complex Case Panel.

If your child is assessed as needing residential care and support (other than short breaks), this will also be discussed by the Complex Case Panel.

Your assessment and support needs will be considered. Funding may come from Health, Social Care and / or Education to support your child / young person's care, health and education needs.

Support package decisions

We will write to you to let you know the decision of the Panel, and agree with you how your child's support package is going to be delivered. 

This might be through direct access to services, a Direct Payment, or a Personal Budget.

You will be allocated a practitioner to support your child.

Payments will be awarded for a fixed period. 

The support you get will be regularly reviewed.