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Disabled children

Disabled Children's Team

In the Disabled Children's Team we provide services to children and young people aged under eighteen years who have needs arising from their disability. We work with children with severe learning disabilities, and children who need significant support to take part in ordinary activities.

Children with hearing or visual impairments will receive an initial assessment and support from the specialist workers, who are based in Adult Services. The specialist workers sometimes contact the Disabled Children's Team if additional support is needed.

The Disabled Children's Team can also assess the needs of the children's parents, carers, brothers and sisters. This is because sometimes all members of a household share the caring tasks, and may need support to lead 'ordinary lives'.

Members of the Team

The Team includes Community Nurses, Social Workers, two part-time Occupational Therapists, a Disabled Children's Register Co-ordinator and a Team Clerk. Each member of the Team has training and experience in helping children who are disabled and their families. It is jointly staffed, managed and financed by Calderdale Council and the NHS. The Team is based at Northgate House, Halifax and covers the whole of Calderdale.

Services the Team provides

• Support and advice around your child's disability.
• Assessment and planning for your child's health and social needs which could include:
  • Support in the home with the care of a disabled child
  • Short breaks - during the day or overnight
  • Community based leisure activities.
• Support and training to provide health care at home.
• Assessment, advice and guidance relating to challenging behaviour, including training and support for parents and carers.
• Assessment and advice for home adaptations and equipment.
• Information about other resources.
• Assessment, advice and support for young people as they reach adulthood, and for their parents and carers.

Requesting help from the Team

If your child attends a special school or has previously received services from the Disabled Children's Team, please contact the Disabled Children's Team duty officer, based at Northgate House, Halifax, on 01422 393355, between 1.00 pm and 5.30 pm (Monday to Friday), 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm (Friday).  He / she will discuss the support you would like and arrange an initial visit if required.  Either a social worker or a community nurse will be allocated and may complete an assessment of your child's needs. 

If your child does not attend a special school and has not previously received support from the Disabled Children's Team please contact the duty worker at the First Response Team at Northgate House, Halifax, to ask for an assessment of your child's needs. The number to ring is 01422 393336.

The duty worker will complete a referral form and ask you to sign a consent form which gives the Initial Response Team permission to gather information about your child's needs from professionals who know you and your child. The First Response Team will then arrange to carry out an Initial Assessment, usually with a worker from the Disabled Children's Team.

If as a result of the Initial Assessment it is agreed that the Disabled Children's Team can best meet your child's needs, a worker from the team will be allocated to your child. If your child has complex health needs it is likely that a Community Nurse will become your child's allocated worker. The worker will then make a more in-depth assessment of your child and your family's needs.

Assessments

An assessment is when we talk to you about your child's needs and how we, or someone else may help. We will help you look at your choices and you can also ask for an assessment of your own needs as a carer.

We may talk to other people who know you, your child and your family, for example your doctor, your child's teacher, paediatrician or physiotherapist. We will ask your permission to do this.

If you find it easier to talk to us in another language, you can ask us to bring an interpreter.

When you and the Community Nurse or Social Worker are satisfied that the assessment accurately reflects your circumstances you will be asked to sign it and you will receive a copy.

After the assessment

We agree what is called a Care Plan with you, which says what you need us to do and how we will do it. We will let you know what services we will arrange, who will provide the services and when they should start. We review the services at least once a year with you to make sure that they are still the services you need.

Asking for help from an Occupational Therapist

Contact the duty worker at the Disabled Children's Team on 01422 393355. The duty worker will ask you for details about your child's specific needs to help with prioritising your request for an occupational therapy assessment. An Occupational Therapist (OT) will then contact you to say when to expect a visit. The OT will carry out an OT assessment of how your child can be helped to be safe and as independent as possible within the family home and can also offer advice and support with re-housing to meet your child's needs.

If you do not qualify for a service

There may be times when we cannot help. If this happens we may be able to put you in touch with another organisation that can help you. If your needs change after we have closed your case, you can contact us direct and ask for a re-assessment.

Charging for services

There is no charge at the present time for any of the services provided by the team. This may change in the future.

Further information

The team's duty worker is available to answer informal questions or discuss any aspect of looking after a disabled child from Monday to Thursday between 1.00 pm and 5.30 pm and Fridays between 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm. Telephone 01422 393355.

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