TAC case study: Ahmed aged 13 years

Ahmed is 13 years old and has cerebral palsy, he lives with his mother and two sisters in a three bedroom flat on the second floor. The flat is reached by three flights of stairs which has prevented him going out as his mother is unable to use the stairs safely. He has already fallen down a flight of internal stairs. Also residing in the flat is his aunt and uncle and their two children. Ahmed left his father and two brothers in Somalia arriving in this country in December 2006. His parents are divorced.

Since arriving in the UK Ahmed has never been to school and has no friends as he is unable to leave his home and despite a referral being made to Social Care by specialist services at Mary Sheridan Centre for Child Health his family is not receiving respite care. He has undergone developmental assessments at Mary Sheridan Centre and is now receiving regular sessions of physiotherapy which has assisted with his mobility and physical strength. However he still spends large amounts of time in his wheelchair as he gets very tired walking. The consultant paediatrician referred him to the Lambeth SEN service requesting an initiation of Statutory Assessment and he was referred to the Exclusions and Out of School Team in order to access a school place. Little progress has been made with these referrals and he has not been allocated a school.

The family have been receiving support from a Somali community education officer. The community education officer decided to initiate a CAF as a lead professional because he was concerned about the lack of a co-ordinated support for the family and in particular Ahmed being out of school, his isolation at home and his inability for his housing to meet his needs. More importantly he was extremely concerned around the risks for Ahmed or his mother falling down the internal or external flights of stairs. As part of the CAF interview with Ahmed and his mother Ahmed had expressed that he really wanted to be in school and for his legs to be better.

The community education officer was able to establish that there had been some involvement of services but that this had effected little change in the family's situation.

A TAC meeting was held with an invitation extended to social care, exclusion and reintegration officer, SEN manager, consultant community paediatrician, physiotherapist, social worker and housing officer.

The key outcomes identified in the CAF were

• Ahmed not to be isolated and to be at school
• Ahmed to receive appropriate support to enable him to access the curriculum
• Family to feel supported whilst awaiting school placement for Ahmed
• Family to be accommodated in more appropriate housing to meet Ahmed's needs and to provide more space.

The social worker, exclusion and reintegration officer, SEN manager and housing officer did not attend the first TAC meeting and it was agreed that the lead professional, with the help of the TAC area manager would assist by engaging the missing professionals in order to address the additional needs and agree their involvement. It was agreed that another TAC meeting with be called within two weeks with all professionals attending. In the intervening period the lead professional was able to make contact with the duty social worker who was going to visit the family to carry out an initial assessment, the allocated exclusion and reintegration officer and SEN manager. The lead professional contacted the housing office and arrangements were made for the family to go through a medical assessment procedure.

Further TAC meetings were held in over the six weeks with attendance from social care, the exclusion and reintegration officer and SEN manager. All professionals in the intervening period worked towards the above outcomes.

The following actions have now taken place:

• Ahmed's case has gone to the pupil placement panel for an interim placement at Evelina Hospital School for two days a week until place found in secondary school.
• Possible place found at secondary school but lead professional liaising with SEN department regarding access to school and SEN statement process.
• Process for statement in place.
• Social care taking case to panel for funding of respite provision.
• Housing application has been received and medical assessment has been carried out.

It is hoped that Ahmed will commence school after half term if arrangements can be put in place to support Ahmed in school.