Children and Young People's Service
Children with Disabilities Team
4th Floor Waterside House
Waterside
Sale
M33 7ZF
Tel: Reception (0161) 912 2060
Fax: (0161) 912 2144
If making a first referral to Children & Young People's Service, your first
point of contact MUST BE Children's Duty and Assessment Team (CDAT) - Tele:
(0161) 912 5125.
The Children with Disabilities Team covers the whole of the Trafford area and
works with children and young people up to and including the age of 17 years.
Bringing up children can be difficult and stressful at times. This Team
recognises that there may be additional stresses placed on parents when caring
for a child/young person with a disability.
We try to help families cope in these situations.
Some parents may simply require on the spot advice. Others may prefer an
occasional specific service for a short period of time. A small number of
families require more intensive ongoing involvement from the Team.
Following an assessment of need a social worker, with the co-operation of a
parent and child, will design an appropriate "care plan" which can include a
range of services and local resources to assist families.
Confidentiality
In all our work with children and their families we keep to a strict code of
confidentiality. It is often the case that other agencies e.g. health and
education are involved in providing support to your family. In this case, it is
likely to be appropriate to share information with them on a 'need to know'
basis. Except in matters of child protection, carers consent views would be
sought prior to information be offered.
Ways we can help
- advice, assistance and guidance about children
- practical support to families in the home
- family support service
- family based short breaks
- advice re local community resources
- the protection of children from abuse
The 1989 Children Act (the law we work under)
- makes children's welfare a priority
- recognises that children are best brought up within their own families
wherever possible
- requires local authorities to provide services for children and families
in need
- promotes partnership between children, parents and local authorities
- aims to ensure that children looked after by the Local Authority either
through short breaks or full time care provided with a good standard of care
What we feel is important
- to put the needs of the child first
- a child with a disability is a child first and the team would seek to
promote and secure access to locally based services
- ideally a child's needs are best met within his/her family home
- to work in partnership with parents
- to recognise that children's own views are important
- to develop links with community and other organisations involved in
working with children
- to develop working agreements with families to whom we offer a service
and to review there regularly
Access to records
Children and Young People's Service have to keep records of their work with
service users. This service operates a policy of client access to certain
information held from 1st April 1988
If you wish to see your file there is a leaflet, which explains the
conditions of access and the procedures you must follow.
This leaflet can be obtained from our office (see address at the top of the
page).
Complaints procedure
If you are unhappy about any aspect of our service, please discuss it
initially with your care manager and then the team manager. If you are still not
satisfied with the response there is a formal complaints procedure that you can
use. Please ask for details.
Comments
We are interested in your views as to the service we provide, and whether it
meets your needs. Please talk to the care manager (see telephone number at the
beginning of this page) who will arrange to send you a comments/complaints form
for you to complete.
CHILDREN'S DISABILITY 'LINK' RECORD
If your child has a disability please read the following information:-
The Children Act 1989 requires all local authorities to maintain a 'register' of
children with a disability in their area. IN TRAFFORD THIS REGISTER IS CALLED
'LINK' or CHILDREN'S DISABILITY RECORD.
The Link Record is a register of children with disabilities, the services they
use and their needs. It is used to help plan and improve services to disabled
young people and their families living in Trafford.
WHY IS A RECORD USEFUL?
The 'Link' Record will keep information on computer about the health,
personal and educational needs of children and young people with a disability
living in Trafford up to the age of 19.
In order to provide the best and most useful services, information from the
'Link' Record will help social services, health, education and voluntary
organisations plan and provide their services.
To set up a mailing list so that families may be sent relevant information from
time to time, including regular newsletters.
It will keep families informed of changes in services and other helpful
information.
DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE ON THE DISABILITY RECORD?
You can decide whether or not your child is on the 'link Record. Registration
is entirely voluntary, but it will help planning of future services if it holds
information on as many people as possible.
If you do not wish your child to be included your right to services will not be
affected.
WHY SHOULD I PUT MY CHILD'S NAME ON THE 'LINK' RECORD
- You will receive information about current services in Trafford MBC
- You will be kept informed from time to time about changes in services,
new services and other helpful information.
- You will be helping local services to develop
- You will receive newsletters throughout the year
WHERE WILL THE RECORD BE KEPT?
The record will be held on a computerised database system and maintained by
Children and Young People's Service in Sale.
All information held will be protected by the Data Protection Act 1998
WHO COLLATES THE INFORMATION
The Record Co-ordinator will arrange to visit you to complete the record form
- alternatively a parent or carer can complete the form.
Once your child's details are on the 'Link' Record you will be sent a copy of
the form for information.
HOW WILL THE INFORMATION BE KEPT UP TO DATE?
The 'Link' Record will be reviewed every two years by the Record Co-ordinator
who will contact families by letter
CAN MY CHILD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD?
Children's names can be removed from the record at any time for a number of
reasons
- When your child reaches the age of 19
- If you move out of the Trafford area
- Your child's name will be removed if you or they ask for it to be
removed
- Your child's condition may change so that they are no longer considered
disabled within the definitions of the Children's Act
If you would like more information regarding the 'Link' Record please
contact:
Record Co-ordinator
Children with Disabilities Team
4th Floor Waterside House
Waterside
Sale
M33 7ZF
Telephone: 0161 912 5777
Fax: 0161 912 2144
Email:
christine.harris@trafford.gov.uk
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