Why is it useful to have a social worker?

Social Care funds day service, respite and short break provision. A social care assessment may enable the young person to get support in the form of a Personal Budget/Direct Payment to help develop supported independence to pursue hobbies or activities. They can also provide access to overnight respite. A social worker works with families to provide advice and support in most aspects of the young person’s life in the community. Social workers help to protect vulnerable children and adults from harm or abuse, and support people to live independently. Once a child has been assessed as having a social care need, they will be allocated a Social Worker or Care Manager. A Care manager monitors and supports the family once a plan is in place under the direction of a Social Worker. Your young person may have a Social Worker attached to the SEN Department. If needs are more complex it could be a Learning Disability team Social Worker. As your young person approaches adulthood, from age 17 they will be allocated a Transitional Social Worker to support the move to adult services. Once an adult, support will be from an Adult Social Worker initially, with day-to-day support provided by a Care Manager.

If you do not have a Social Worker, there are a couple of options:

• Early help assessment may be requested by school
• You can request an assessment of your child/young person’s social care needs.

If other medical professionals e.g Paediatrician, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Learning Disability Nurse are involved they could refer to social care.

Supported Living

For many of our young people, living as independently as possible is an achievable goal. Some may choose to, or need to, live away from the family home. To access supported living, it is important to have had an assessment carried out by adult social care. You can find out more about what your Local Authority can provide through their Local Offer.

Transition to Adult Social Care

Disabled children who have had an assessment of their social care needs and receive support from Children’s Services transition to adult social care when they are 18. The transition process starts at the Year 9 review. The actual transition between Children’s and Adult Services will start after their 17th birthday. The Care Act 2014 states that there should be no gap in services. If a child is receiving social care support this continues until Adult Social Care completes its own assessment. It is especially Important for those young people who will move to supported living in the future.

You can find information on processes in your LA by searching: Your LA name + SEND Local Offer + Social Care