Staying safe

What do Children's Services do?
Children's Services has a duty under the Children Act 1989 to help support children with a permanent and substantial long term disability to continue living at home with their parent/carers. Following an assessment of the needs of the child and their family, a range of services can be provided to meet the identified need. Sometimes services are provided through contracts with the private or voluntary sector, or by a Direct Payment that enables families to make their own arrangements to meet identified needs. Services for Disabled Children, which is a division within Children's Services, is also a direct provider of services and these are grouped together as the "Disabled Children's Support Service".

Services for Disabled Children works with children and young people from birth up to the age of 18 where the child or young person has one or more of the following:

• A substantial physical disability
• A severe communication disability
• An autistic spectrum disorder
• A severe learning disability

Services for Disabled Children currently provide a range of opportunities and provisions for disabled children, young people and their families as outlined below.

The Children's Disability Team

The Children's Disability Team provide support for disabled children living at home with their families, and they also work with children or young people who are living with a foster family or in a residential placement.  Following an assessment of need, we try to offer choice as to what services will be provided. This can include:

• direct service provision by Services for Disabled Children
• other Social Services provision, including sponsored child minding, Family Home Care or family based short break care
• Independent Sector provision, including Out of School Clubs, Youth clubs, or domiciliary care providers.
• An increasing number of families are accessing Direct Payments in order to purchase their own services to meet assessed need, more information here ( 598kb)

Find out more about having an assessment here ( 182kb).

The Team is developing closer working relationships with colleagues in health, education and adult services to streamline the referral, assessment and provision of support across all agencies.

Disabled Children's Support Service

The Disabled Children's Support Service can work with disabled children either in their own homes or within their local community. Whilst the provision of personal care is not the primary purpose of this service, personal care tasks are undertaken with children and young people as required.

Short or long-term assistance in the home

The type of support available could be to get a child ready for school or at the end of the day to wash and settle the child ready for bed.

Short-term or intermittent support

To assist parent/carers in looking after disabled children, typically, when exceptional or unexpected circumstances arise. The help provided could either be in the home or through taking the child out to leisure, lay or recreation activities. This worker provides a range of support to families that may include transport or assistance with household and basic childcare tasks.

Regular Outings

A support worker over an extended period of weeks, months or occasionally years, will regularly meet with the child or young person and support them to join in leisure, play or recreation activities at home or the community. This will also give parent/carer a break from caring.

Overnight Short Breaks/Away Breaks

This service offers disabled children time to spend one or two nights away from home with their peer group and support workers in a holiday setting.

Working Together

The Support Service works with other agencies, including Health, Education and Youth Development Group and the Voluntary Sector to promote the inclusion of disabled children and young people in their community.

Network of Disabled Children

Children's Services keeps details of disabled children in Sunderland. Parent/carers of children who are on this list are able to get involved in the planning of services and get up-to-date information through a regular newsletter called Real Issues. There is a leaflet called the Sunderland Network for Disabled Children that gives more information about the benefits of joining the Network and includes an application form. Download leaflet here ( 160kb).

10 Sea View Road West

10 Sea View Road West is a purpose built bungalow which provides planned, regular breaks for disabled children and young people aged from 8 years up to their eighteenth birthday. Up to seven children are able to stay at any one time and this gives them the opportunity to develop their independence from their parents, and have fun with their friends. It also gives their parents the opportunity to have a break from caring. Stays are usually for three or four nights every few weeks, with occasional longer stays for up to two weeks, but will not exceed 120 nights in a year ( more information here ( 789kb)

Wendover Close

Wendover Close is a small children's home, which provides accommodation for three young people aged between 10 & 18 years of age.

Meadow Rise

Meadow Rise is a purpose built children's home which provides accommodation for six young people aged between 10 & 18 years of age.

The Specialist Health Visitor for disabled children and the Children's Learning Disability Nurses are also based at Gilpin House.

More information about the team is available from the address below, or by dowloading here ( 825kb).

The Children's Disability Team:

Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton Le Spring, DH4 5HX.

Tel: 0191 566 2190

Fax: 0191 566 2191

E-mail: child.disability@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk  

Initial Response Team + Childcare Teams
The Initial Response Team receives new referrals and does initial assessments for children, including those with disabilities which do not come within the role of the Children with Disabilities Team, including mild or moderate disabilities, high functioning Autism and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). On completion of the initial assessment and Child in Need plan, responsibility for the case is then transferred to one of five Childcare Teams.

The Childcare Teams support children and young people in their own families in the community. They help children, young people, their families, carers and friends, by looking at their needs and planning services to support them. Services could include extra support in the home, day care, parenting support, youth clubs and the Occupational Therapy Service.

Families can contact the Initial Response Team direct at the address below. Professionals should put referrals on a CIN2b form.

Initial Response team, Cassaton House, Fawcett Street, Sunderland, Tel: (0191) 566 1500

More information can be dowloaded here ( 694kb)
Find out more about having an assessment here ( 182kb)

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Early Support

Early Support in Sunderland is a joint initiative that brings together health education, social services and the voluntary sector to improve service delivery for disabled children under 5 years and their families. Your Family Health Visitor can take the role of lead professional and supports the co-ordination of service provision and acts as the main contact for you and your family.

For those children whose needs agencies have found most complex to meet in a well co-ordinated way, a meeting will be arranged with everyone involved in your child's care (including you) to talk about their work with your child, what still needs to be done, who will do it and when you can expect it to be done by. In most cases, your Family Health Visitor will co-ordinate the discussion at the meeting, ensure it is written up in a plan (Family Service Plan) and also ensure everyone involved receives a copy. The Family Service Plan identifies your child and family's needs and the full range of support required. The Plan is reviewed at the next meeting and a new one drawn up.

Early Support is available to children under 5 years who are disabled or have complex health needs, and who need a system of multi-agency planning to ensure they get the services and support they need.

In some instances the Hospital Social Worker will initiate Early Support prior to discharge to ensure continuity of support from hospital to community services.

The Health Visitor for Children with Special Needs supports the Health Visiting Team, ensuring that where appropriate families benefit from Early Support, and the child and family's support needs and priorities are identified at the meeting and included in the Family Service Plan.

For further information about Early Support in Sunderland contact your Health Visitor at your G.P. surgery, Health Centre or local Children's Centre or the Specialist Health Visitor for Children with Special Needs at:

Services for Disabled Children, Gilpin House,  Blind Lane,  Houghton le Spring, DH4 5HX. Tel: 0191 566 2190

For more information about the development of Early Support in Sunderland and around the country, visit the Early Support website by clicking here: www.earlysupport.org.uk

Sensory Impairment Team
The Team provide a variety of support services to children and adults who have a diagnosed Visual or Hearing Impairment. Following a comprehensive assessment, specialist workers will offer support, advice and where necessary make provision of specialist equipment to support the individual’s development, dignity and independence.

Support is offered with:

• Daily living tasks
• Personal care
• Mobility skills
• Communication
• Specialist equipment in the home
• Making links to other agencies/organisations who could offer counseling, advocacy services, welfare benefits advice, leisure and social activities etc.

For more information contact:

Sensory Impairment Team,

The Council Offices,

The Broadway, Houghton.
Tel: 0191 566 2330
Minicom: 0191 553 6502

Quest
Quest is a joint initiative between Sunderland Children's Services and South of Tyne and Wearside NHS Trust. It is a specialist service that works with children who have a severe learning disability and whose behaviour presents a severe challenge to families and services. In practice this means direct work with the child and their family in providing an assessment and then working to find ways to reduce the behaviours. Much of this is achieved by changing the environment and helping family members to better understand the underlying causes of the behaviour so that they can find more successful ways of dealing with it.

The psychology input into the Quest service is provided by staff who also work into the Hillview Psychology Service and vice versa. Children who access Quest are those with severe learning disabilities (using Health Service Criteria) whose behaviour results in them causing injury to themselves or others, or prevents them from participating in their local community.

Referrals can be made direct to Quest, but there must be a recent Children's Services Assessment. All referrals are discussed at a monthly meeting.

More information can be downloaded here ( 132kb) or contact:

Quest, c/o Services for Disabled Children, Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 5HX

Tel: 0191 566 2190

Fax: 0191 566 2191

E-mail: quest@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk

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Family Home Care Service
The Family Home Care service offers support to families in their own homes, including carrying out personal care, dressing, bathing, meal preparation, cooking, housework and laundry. The service is available to children in need from birth to eighteen years, including disabled children, and also to parents with a disability or ill health, following an assessment. Referrals should go to the Initial Response Team or the Children with Disabilities Team.

For more information contact:

Family Support Services, Cassaton House, Fawcett Street, Sunderland, SR1 1RF, DH4 5HX

Tel: 0191 566 1673

Sponsored Childminding
The Sponsored Childminding scheme provides support to families by linking children with an approved child minder, with the cost of the childcare being met by Children's Services. The number of hours childminding provided will vary according to the needs of the child/children and their family. Sponsored childminding can provide stimulating opportunities for children while also relieving the pressures of caring. Some child minders specialise in caring for disabled children and have the skills, confidence and experience to work with children with high care needs. The service is offered to families who are experiencing short or long term difficulties, following an assessment of need. Referrals can be made by a social worker, health visitor, other professional or from the child’s own parent/carer.

For more information contact:

Family Support Services, Cassaton House, Fawcett Street, Sunderland, SR1 1RF, DH4 5HX

Tel: 0191 566 1673

Children's Services Nursery Centres
Children's Services nursery centres provide day care for children aged 21 months to 4 years, and for younger children in exceptional circumstances. They also provide crèche care for children aged 0-4 to support parent activities, such as groups and courses in the nursery. Nurseries also offer parent support activities and home visiting. Children's Services works closely with Education and other agencies to meet the needs of children who need additional support or have particular needs or disabilities. They actively promote the inclusion of disabled children and children with additional needs in nursery. Your health visitor or social worker can assess your child for a nursery place, and a referral can be made following this assessment. The referral is then submitted to an Allocation Panel and places are allocated based on greatest need. Download the information leaflet here ( 1.45mb).

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Clarke, Nurseries and Projects Manager
Tel: 0191 553 5635

Wheelchair Services Wheelchair Services offer assessment and provision of mobility equipment, predominantly wheelchairs. They also carry out postural and special seating assessments within mobility equipment. They can be contacted directly by families, while other professionals involved in your child’s care can make a referral on your behalf. Download the information leaflet here ( 261kb).

For more information contact:

Occupational Therapy & Wheelchair Services, Independent Living Centre, Claymere Road, Leechmere Industrial Estate, Sunderland, SR2 9TS

Tel: (0191) 566 2102/566 2103

Fax: (0191) 566 2182

Child Car Seats New regulations came into force in September 2006. More information can be downloaded here.

Accessible Homes Team
The Accessible Homes Team process grants for adaptations to the homes of disabled people. There are two types of grants:-

Minor Adaptations Grant:

This is available for works costing less than £4,000 and can be applied for once within a three year period and is not means tested. This grant is discretionary and is only available when funds permit.

Disabled Facilities Grant:

This grant is for major works up to a maximum of £25,000 but is means tested, which means you may have to contribute towards the works, depending on your income and capital. If the works are for a dependant child, they are not subject to a means test.

To apply for a grant, you should contact Children's Services, who will look at your needs, and if alterations to your home are necessary, your information will be passed to the Accessible Homes Team. Download the information leaflet here ( 1.62mb).

For more information contact:

Children's Services

Tel: (0191) 566 2000

Accessible Homes Team, ILC, Claymere Road, Sunderland, SR2 9TS.

Tel: (0191) 566 1451

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Welfare Rights Service
The Welfare Rights Service can give advice and information about a wide range of issues which may affect families. One important thing they can offer to families with a disabled child is advice and expertise in completing Disability Living Allowance application forms and other benefits information.

They offer welfare benefits advice in the Ford, Pallion and Pennywell areas via their outreach venues. They also provide help over the telephone and do home visits for the elderly and infirm.

They can also provide Information Days or attend similar events to provide information to larger groups.

The service is free, confidential and independent. More information can be downloaded here ( 97kb).

For further information, contact:

Tel: 0191 514 2930 Monday to Friday. 

E-mail: outreachwelfarerights@btconnect.com

Direct Payments
These are cash payments made to you to enable you to organise and buy your own social care services, which you have been assessed as needing by Children's Services. This may give you more flexibility and control to make your own decisions about how services are delivered. The following people can request a direct payment following an assessment of their needs:

1.    People with parental responsibility for a disabled child
2.    A young disabled person aged 16 or 17
For more information about the above two options click here ( 598kb)
3.    Anyone over the age of 18
For more information about the above option click here ( 391kb)

To find out more, speak to your contact within Children's Services or contact Philip Snowball (Direct Payments Manager) on Tel: (0191) 566 1825 or download the Children's guides below:

Click here to download ' Employment of a Personal Assistant ' guidance ( 237kb)

Click here to download ' Employment of a Personal Assistant Fact Sheet ' ( 835kb)

Click here to download ' Provision via a Care Agency ' guidance ( 194kb)

Direct Payments Resources

The four resources below are designed to help you understand Direct Payments and offer information and advice:

1. The Department of Health have produced two guides to using Direct Payments. View them here ( 262kb) and here ( 57kb)

2. The National Centre for Independent Living can support people in accessing Direct Payments. Click here to visit their website www.ncil.org.uk/

3. Download the Scope report about Direct Payments here ( 552kb)

4. In the Driving Seat and My Money, My Way Two Direct Payments Resources from SCOPE. Through DfES funding, SCOPE have produced a series of resources on raising awareness of Direct Payments. In the Driving Seat is a guide for parents and is accompanied by My Money, My Way, specifically targeted at young people.

For further information please click here www.scope.org.uk/issues/directpayments/ 

A Parent's Guide to Direct Payments

The Parent's Guide, which was first issued in March 2003, has now been updated. The Guide is for people with parental responsibility for disabled children who are considering using direct payments to purchase part or all of the services required by their child. It also provides advice on being an employer, how to advertise for a post, carry out interviews and undertake checks and references.

We have also reviewed the way information on direct payments is presented on the Every Child Matters website. All information on direct payments is now in one place and can be found at http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/disabledchildren/directpaymentfaqs/

You can also download copies of the updated Parents Guide to Direct Payments from this page.

If you would like to order hard copies of the Guide you can do so by calling DfES prolog on 0845 60 222 60.

Please quote ref: 0202-2006DOC-EN when ordering the English version. The Guide is also available in alternative translated versions.

Bengali vesion ref: 0202-2006DOC-BN

Gujurati version ref: 0202-2006DOC-GU

Hindi version ref: 0202-2006DOC-HI

Punjab version ref: 0202-2006DOC-PA

Urdu version ref: 0202-2006DOC-UR

You may need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some files on this
page click on the logo to download a copy.

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