What is children's social care?
Some children with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
may be eligible for social care support. This could include day care facilities for children under the age of 5, short breaks and wider support for the child’s family. This support is a ‘general duty’ meaning that the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
must provide a range of services for all children in its area who are deemed to be ‘children in need’ in order to “safeguard and promote” their interests.
Some children with a learning disability may be eligible for social care support
This could include day care for children under the age of 5, short breaks and wider support for the child’s family.
Professional support and therapy
Some professionals you might come into contact with are:
- Speech and language therapists – treat speech, language and communication problems in people of all ages to help them communicate better.
- Occupational therapists – identifying strengths and difficulties a child or young person may have in everyday life and helping them work out practical solutions.
- Physiotherapists – paediatric physiotherapists offer a range of support for children from birth until they leave
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
. - Educational psychologists – helping children or young people who are experiencing problems within an educational setting with the aim of enhancing their learning.
Children’s Centres
A Children's Centre brings together a range of services for children under five and their families such as family support, health and education.
Children’s Centres also include information and support across the local
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
. The idea is to make services easy to use and to give children the best start in life.
Children under 18 and ‘children in need’
Children under 18 who are eligible to receive social care are called ‘children in need’. All disabled children are eligible for an
assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
from their council to determine whether they need social care support. Councils will have their own criteria for determining whether someone is eligible for support.
Some children who are suffering from, or at risk of significant harm, will also receive support to safeguard them and promote their welfare.
The Care Act tells local councils across England what they need to do if someone needs social care support.It also tells councils what they have to do if they know someone is caring for a family member or friends and needs support as a carer.
A Children's Centre brings together a range of services for children under five and their families such as family support, health and education.
Children’s Centres also include information and support across the local community. The idea is to make services easy to use and to give children the best start in life.
Every council must have a Local Offer of support that it expects to be available in the local area for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
SEND stands for special educational needs and disabilities.
very council must also provide an independent Information, Advice and Support Service. The support service is available for children and young people with SEND and their parents.
The IASS will provide information on things like:
- local policies and practice around SEND
- the law on SEND
- the Local Offer
- personal budgets
- other sources of support.
