The Council of the Isles of Scilly, Children and Family Services support children with disabilities and their families with a number of services.

Contact

Children & Family Services

Council of the Isles of Scilly

Carn Gwaval St Mary’s Isles of Scilly

TR21 0NA

Tel: 0300 1234 105 Option 5

Email: ChildrensSocialCare@scilly.gov.uk

Council of the Isles of Scilly website, Children's Services: www.scilly.gov.uk/childrens-services

Every family goes through challenging times at some point. Early help means working with you and your family so that small problems don’t become big problems.

Early help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age and it’s your choice whether to have it or not.

Where to get Early Help

If you feel you and your family might need support to solve some problems, you can ask someone in your life that you trust about Early Help. This might be a teacher or family support worker at your child’s school, your GP, your health visitor, pre-school/nursery worker. If you find this difficult, you can always contact Children’s Social Care. We’ll work with you to find someone for you to talk to. Sometimes if someone is worried that you’re having some problems, they might ask you if you would like to talk about early help.

Further information

Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/children/early-help

What is the legal definition of a child in need?

​Under Section 17 Children Act 1989, a child will be considered in need if:

they are unlikely to achieve or maintain or to have the opportunity to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without provision of services from the Local Authority

their health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of services from the Local Authority;

they have a disability.

Disability includes for example sight and hearing impairment, mental health, etc. Section 17 Children Act 1989 can be found on the legislation.co.uk website: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents

​Children in need may be:

• children with SEND;

• young carers;

• children who have committed a crime;

• children whose parents are in prison; or

• asylum seeking children.

What is a Child in Need Plan?

A child in need plan will contain the support which is being provided to a child and/or family by Children’s Services and this will be discussed at a Child in Need planning meeting and reviewed.

Short breaks are a part of support offered to disabled children and young people aged 0-25 years of age and their families on the Isles of Scilly.

They aim to:

• Support families by giving parents and carers a break from caring for a disabled child or young person

• Ensure that disabled children and young people can take part in play, youth and leisure opportunities.​

Further information

Short Breaks Care statement, eligibility criteria and what is available can be accessed via the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/childrens-services/childrens-social-care

This is for children and young people under the age of 18 who often take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities to look after one of their parents or a brother/sister with an illness, additional need or disability and/or are a sibling.

​The Sibling and Young Carers Group gives children and young people the opportunity to meet other young carers in an informal way, giving them a break and an opportunity to enjoy activities. The Young Carers Group offers activity sessions with the opportunity for children and young people to get to know others in similar situations, make friends and enjoy themselves. It gives siblings and young carers a safe environment where they can talk about their feelings, if they want to, and explore their experiences and emotions, in a supportive setting away from the family. The group undertakes activities, for example swimming, arts and crafts, going to the beach or wildlife trips, giving a chance for young carers and/or siblings of children with additional needs or disabilities a chance at activities they may miss out on. ​

The aim of the group is for young carers and siblings to have fun and have a break, free from the added responsibilities at home. Young Carers and siblings can also be supported if they wish to learn more about the disability or illness that affects their family.

​If you know a child or young person that you think may benefit from being part of the Siblings and Young Carers Group, please contact the Children’s Social Care team who will provide more information.

What is a Parent Carer's Needs Assessment?

The aim of a parent carer's assessment is to give you a chance to tell Children and Family Services about the things that could make looking after your disabled child easier for you.

​The assessment focuses on you as a parent and your needs. We will discuss issues like the help you need, and whether there is anyone else who helps or if you are your child’s only carer.

​The parent carer’s needs assessment will also consider your wellbeing, including health and safety issues, and important commitments like relationships and employment.

​What the law says

The Children and Families Act 2014 amended the Children Act 1989 (sections17ZD, 17ZE12 and 17ZF). Under it, local authorities must assess parent carers if:

‘it appears to the authority that the parent carer may have needs for support’ or if they ‘receive a request from the parent carer to assess their need for support.’

The Act also says that:

A parent carer’s needs assessment must include an assessment of whether it is appropriate for the parent carer to provide, or continue to provide, care for the disabled child, in the light of the parent carer’s needs for support, other needs and wishes. (Children and Families Act 2014 section17ZD (9))

They must also take into account ‘the well-being of the parent carer’ and ‘the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the disabled child cared for and any other child for whom the parent carer has parental responsibility.’

The Wellbeing Duty (Children and Families Act 2014 section17ZD (10))

​This ‘wellbeing’ duty is an important addition. It means local authorities must consider a person’s:

personal dignity and respect, physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing, protection from abuse and neglect, control by the individual over day-to-day life, participation in work, education, training or recreation, social and economic wellbeing, domestic, family, and personal relationships, suitability of living accommodation, contribution to society.

Who is eligible for a Parent Cares Needs Assessment?

If you are a parent looking after a disabled child and you have Parental Responsibility for that child then you can have a Parent Carer Needs Assessment. This includes non-birth parents, such as relatives who have gained Parental Responsibility for a child through a legal process.

​The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 remains in force for other family members who are providing care to a disabled child. For example a grandparent, aunt or uncle who provide care, but does not have parental responsibility for the child. If this is the case you may be able to access assessments if you are providing substantial and regular care (usually defined as 35 hours or more care per week).

When can I ask for a Parent Carers Needs Assessment?

All parent carers have a right to ask for an assessment of their needs at any time. You can also have your needs re-assessed if you have had a previous Parent Carers Needs Assessment and your needs or circumstances have changed.

​However, if your disabled child is having an assessment of their needs then this should also take into account the needs of the rest of the family members, including parents and siblings. It should consider your needs as a carer and your capacity to continue with caring. The Lead Professional who is working with your family should talk to you about whether you wish to be referred for a Parent Carers Needs Assessment in addition to them considering your needs as a carer in your child’s assessment, when planning services to meet your child’s needs and when reviewing their plan.

​If your disabled child hasn’t had an assessment of their needs then you can request one from Children’s Social Care. Email: ChildrensSocialCare@scilly.gov.uk

​You don’t need to have a diagnosis for your child to get an assessment or help from Children and Family Services. If your child needs help or support, an assessment of their needs can be completed by any professional who is working with your family via an Early Help Assessment. Alternatively, you can request an assessment of your child’s needs by calling Children and Family Services.

​How do I ask for a Parent Carers Needs Assessment?

Parent Carers can request an assessment by contacting Children and Family Services

Email: ChildrensSocialCare@scilly.gov.uk

Tel: 0300 1234 105 Option 5

​

​How will the Parent Carers Needs Assessment be completed?

​The social worker who has completed your child’s assessment will conduct the Parent Carers Needs Assessment.

​The information you provide will remain confidential between you and the worker unless you share anything that they are concerned poses a risk to your child/ren, yourself or others. In these circumstances, they will be required to share the information with the Children and Family Services Manager

​Once the assessment has been completed, the worker will consider any differences in this and the child’s assessment and if not covered in the Child in Need plan will complete a Parent Carer plan.

​What will happen after the Parent Carers Needs Assessment has been completed?

​Once the Carer Assessment and Support Officer has completed your assessment and plan, you may be entitled to certain services including short break services, carer support and services. This will usually be arranged through your child’s multi-agency plan and can be reviewed and updated if your child’s needs, your family circumstances or your caring responsibilities change.

​It may be decided that there is no need for services, which could result in your case being closed with no further action taken. If you disagree with this decision you can challenge it using the Council of the Isles of Scilly Children's Social Care Services complaints procedure. Please download How to complain about Children's Social Care Services leaflet PDF available via the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/childrens-services/childrens-policies or contact Children's Social Services for information.

What happens as my child gets older?

​When disabled children and young people prepare for the transition to adult services it is important that their Parent Carers have support and appropriate services during this period. They have rights to an assessment under the Care Act 2014. This is called a child’s carer’s assessment ‘in transition’. When these assessments take place isn’t specified in the Act, but it states that they should take place when of most `significant benefit’ to the young person or carer.

​Further information

​Carers UK have information on a range of issues affecting carers on their website: www.carersuk.org

​Contact a Family is a national charity for families with disabled children who provide information, advice and support including carer’s issues. You can find this at their website: www.contact.org.uk

A Looked After Child (LAC) may also be referred to as a Child Looked After (CLA) or Child in Care (CIC), is a child in the care of the Local Authority for more than 24 hours, either:

through a care order made by a Court or

through a voluntary agreement with their parents to accommodate them.

They may be cared for in the following settings:

• in a children’s home

• by foster carers

• with other family members

• in custody or a secure unit. ​

A child stops being looked after when they are adopted, return home (unless still subject to a care order) or turn 18 years of age.

The Local Authority has a responsibility to all young people who have been in care for more than 13 weeks after their 14th birthday under Care Leavers legislation. This applies until they are 21 or in some cases 25 years of age.

The Isles of Scilly commissions a fostering and adoption service from Cornwall Council. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or adopter please find further information on the Cornwall Council website: www.cornwall.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/childrens-services/adoption-and-fostering-in-cornwall-and-the-isles-of-scilly

When a child leaves Youth Custody they automatically become a ‘Looked after child’ and become eligible for care leaving services.

For information on Care Leavers please see above section Children in Care & Care Leavers.