If you are the carer of a disabled child under 16, your child will be assessed by social services.

The law gives social services a duty to safeguard and promote the interests of 'children in need', including children who are disabled.

Local authorities has a set of duties that they must carry out for children in need under the age of 16. Disabled children normally have to be assessed both individually and as a member of a family.

The assessment has to be carried out within a fixed period of time, and social services has to follow guidance on which factors it must consider.

Liaising with other agencies, such as health and education services, is an increasingly important part of the process.
A new system called the 'common assessment framework' has been developed that emphasises the need for social services to work with others and stresses the benefits of sharing information.

Once your child has been assessed, the local authority will consider whether their needs meet the authority’s eligibility criteria for services. Those services could range from short breaks and help at home to access to transport or leisure facilities.
A parent carer has the right to ask for a direct payment so that they can buy the services their child needs, instead of social services providing them directly.

The care plan

The care plan is the way in which the local authority sets out the information they have obtained during assessment. It will explain what needs your disabled child has and what services can be provided to meet those needs.

Disputes about the assessment or care plan

If you have any concerns about the assessment or care plan there are various options that may help you resolve your dispute.

Child protection concerns

Some laws about disabled children focus on child protection issues. This can sometimes make parent carers anxious about approaching social services.
Please do not let this worry you as legally they are there to help and support you.

Some useful organisations for details about social services assements include:

Every child matters

Contact a family

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