Every child or young person undergoing an Educational Health and Care Needs Assessment ("EHCNA") should have their social care needs assessed. Moreover, almost every child or young person under 18 with Special Educational Needs ("SEN") and all children with a disability, will qualify as a child in need under s.17 of the Children's Act 1989 and as such entitled to an assessment of their needs carried out by a member of the local authority's disability social work team ("a s.17 assessment"). Unfortunately, it is often the case that social care assessments are either not carried out at all as part of an EHCNA or they are not carried out properly in line with s.17.
A s.17 assessment should create a holistic overview of a child or young person's needs, and key points include:
Assessing how difficult your child/young person finds carrying out everyday activities.
What the appropriate support and service is for improving your child/young person's well-being.
Evaluating physical, emotional and social aspects of your child/young person's daily routine.
Collaboration between social care professionals and you as a parent, with this integrated approach providing a more comprehensive understanding of your child/young person's needs.
Following the necessary statutory frameworks, such as the Children and Families Act 2014.
As a parent, this assessment can seem daunting, but there are steps you can take to ensure that your child or young person's needs are accurately and comprehensively considered. Be open about the difficulties they encounter in their daily routine, as well as your own personal challenges in supporting their difficulties. Provide any relevant medical history that explains their needs, as well as any documentation (such as educational assessments) you may have related to their disability and/or SEN.
The assessment is not a test; it is designed to be a constructive discussion of your child/young person's needs. There is no set time it should take, and the length of the process ultimately depends on your family's individual circumstances and the complexity of your child/young person's needs. Following assessment there is a wide range of support potentially availalbe, including daycare faciliites for children under 5; assistance for children and families to have a holiday and respite care.
SEND Advocacy can support you with preparing and understanding your child or young person's right to a Social Care Assessment. If you need someone in your corner to help you secure the education your child or young person deserves, contact us today.
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