Children with Disabilities

Lambeth Social Services has a team of social workers and support staff working with children with significant disabilities and their families.

Who is the Children with Disabilities service for?

Lambeth Social Services works with children with disabilities, up to the age of 18, who have been assessed as being 'in need' by social services.

We also work with the families of disabled children.

Under the Children Act 1989, children are considered as being in need if:

• they are unlikely to be able to reach or keep up a reasonable standard of health or physical or mental development without receiving services from the council
• their health or development would be harmed if they didn't receive services
• they are disabled.

Children whose disabilities are permanent and substantial are eligible to be assessed for services.

What does the Children with Disabilities service do?

A child's disability can make it difficult for them to live an independent life in the community.

Their needs can put great pressures on parents and carers because of the amount of care and support required.

Lambeth's Children with Disabilities service aims to:

• provide access to registration and assessment
• provide or arrange support services for disabled children and their families
• work with other organisations to plan the provision of similar support services
• provide a full social work service to children and their families

Parents may also wish to contact an occupational therapist and the Special educational needs service.

Children with Disabilities Register

Lambeth Children with Disabilities Register is managed by the Sutton and Merton PCT Register Services on behalf of Lambeth Council.

The register is entirely voluntary, but all families of Children with Disabilities are encouraged to apply to have their child on the register, as this will help considerably with the planning of services for the future.

This is particularly true when young people are going through the "Transitions" phase and moving on to adult services.

Families can apply direct to "I Count" Register Services by phoning 020 8770 8237, when they will be sent an application form, with a pre paid return envelope.

Families can also visit the website on www.registerservices.nhs.uk