The 0-25 Disabilities Service is a specialist service supporting children and young people with severe, complex and long-term needs.
Who can receive support?
Children and young people who live in Lambeth, are aged between 0 and 18 years old and:
- have three or more indicators from the categories in the Severe or Complex columns in the Levels of Need document
- have a diagnosed disability which has been assessed as permanent and severe by a health clinician
- have multiple disabilities, which might include a disability and a mental health diagnosis which has been assessed as severe and profound by a physician
- have a sensory impairment, a learning disability, or an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) with challenging behaviour as a result of their learning disability
- have a visual or hearing impairment which is severe or profound (deaf or blind) and requires the use of specialist equipment to support their sensory functioning
- have a physical disability which prohibits their ability to be mobile or confines them permanently to the use of a wheelchair and/or the need to be moved using specialist lifting equipment and have occupational therapy adaptations within the home
- have complex health needs (severe epilepsy) and may have a palliative, life-threatening, or life-limiting condition and meet the criteria for Continuing Care funding
- have needs which can only be met by accessing specialist support or there is need for additional funding above the local short breaks offer
- have a diagnosed disability whose parent/carer are assessed as requiring overnight short breaks
- are placed in disability residential education/health and/or care provision via the Care Episode Panel
What support can children and young people receive?
The 0-25 Disabilities Service gives advice on disability and services. We can also provide a care package of services for those assessed as meeting the team’s level of needs threshold. Services include:
- continuing care
- direct payments
- domiciliary care
- short breaks
- dynamic support register
- Deprivation of Liberties (DOLS) orders/court protection
The 0-25 Disabilities Service also supports young people with their transition to adult services.
How do children and young people receive support?
Specialist services are aimed at supporting children and young people with the most severe and complex disabilities. If you feel that this applies to you, then you need to request an assessment from the Children with Disabilities Service by contacting the Initial Referral Hub (IRH).
Parents and carers can make a self-referral by calling the Initial Referral Hub on 0207 926 3100 or 0207 926 3344 (office hours), 0207 926 5555 (out of office hours) or by emailing helpandprotection@lambeth.gov.uk.
Anyone working with a child with a disability, like a SEND school or a health professional, can refer to the 0-25 Disabilities Services by calling 0207 926 5555. Referrals need to be followed up in writing by completing the Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF) and sending it to helpandprotection@lambeth.gov.uk.
What happens after a referral?
Once a referral is made, the Initial Referral Hub (IRH) will triage to determine which team will undertake the Child and Family Assessment.
The IRH will use the level of needs criteria to make a decision on which team is the most appropriate to support the child or young person and their family. This may be the specialist 0-25 Disabilities Service or another team within children's social care.
If the child or young person needs meet the threshold of 0-25 Disabilities Services level of needs, the child or young person will be referred to the service for a Child and Family Assessment.
Read about the 0-25 Disabilities Service Level of Need criteria
What is a 0-25 Disabilities Service Child and Family Assessment?
- The 0-25 Disabilities Service will carry out the assessment in an open way and will involve those caring for the child/young person, the child/young person themselves and any other significant people.
- The assessment will take into consideration the particular needs of the child or young person.
- The team undertaking the assessment may ask for evidence such as doctor’s letters or diagnoses.
- The assessment will be used to gather information to determine the level of needs and what support should be provided, and to identify the level and type of provision needed.
- During the assessment, parents and any siblings will also be considered for an assessment of their needs as potential carers or young carers, and of what their support needs may be.
- If the child or young person is approaching adulthood and it is recognised that they are likely to have needs for care and support after tuning 18 years old, a ‘transitions assessment’ will be undertaken under section 58 of the Care Act 2014.
Read the 0-25 Disabilities Service Level of Need assessment summary
Putting a plan in place
The 0-25 Disabilities Service will make sure that there is a clear short breaks care plan that everyone understands. The plan will make clear what services are available and what everyone involved will do to help meet the child or young person’s needs.
CWD virtual drop-in sessions
A virtual drop-in service takes place on the first Tuesday of every month from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
To register your interest and to receive details on how to connect, please email cwdduty@lambeth.gov.uk or call 0207 9266 916.
Further information
Visit 0-25 Disabilities Service short breaks for SEND children