Social Care - Children with Disabilities Team

Social work embraces work in a number of sectors (public, private, independent, and voluntary); it takes place a number of settings, area offices, residential homes/schools, and community based resources.

The primary task of social work is extremely varied.  Practitioners prepare for and work with individuals, families, carers, groups and communities to assess their needs and circumstances. They manage risk to individual’s families, carers, groups and communities and carry out direct work to ensure that a young person has the opportunity to express their views, wishes and aspirations.

All new referrals within Redbridge are received by the MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub who then pass on the information to the relevant social work teams.  If a child or young person has a mild or moderate disability, then it is likely that the referral will be passed to the Families Together Hub (FTH) . If the child has a severe, profound or complex disability they will be referred to the specialist Social Work Team.

The Children with Disabilities Teams comprise of Team Managers, Senior Practitioners, Social Workers, Transition Workers, Family Support Workers, Adult Transition Social Worker and Assessment Workers.

There are three teams within the service, 2 x Social Worker Teams and 1 x Review Team. The teams work within the same legal framework and eligibility criteria which are severe and profound needs.  The eligibility criteria is designed to meet the following objectives:

• Safeguard and promote the well-being of disabled children by supporting their upbringing, education and participation within their families and communities.
• To ensure that resources are allocated fairly taking account of need outcomes for children, young people and their families.
• To reduce the need for disruptive or intrusive crisis responses in later life through the effective use of early intervention. This will include training for parents, integrated working with professionals and time-limited one-to-one or support packages.
• Contributing towards children’s Education, Health and Care Plans and assessment process
• Developing personal budgets for young people to enable young to have more choice and control
• Completing Transition Assessments and Care and Support Plans prior to transferring young people to adult services at 18 years old.

A letter was recently sent out to families regarding the new Short Breaks Framework Provision, starting from November 2022. There will be a booklet produced shortly with further information about the new providers and service provision. 
Please visit the CWDT and Short Breaks webpages regularly for further updates and information.