context of all relevant legislation & policies in Scotland. Ensure that those who are assessed as not being eligible for services are provided with advice or directed to other services that might be able to help and that such cases are monitored and reassessed regularly. Be aware that it is not good practice, and previous judicial review16 shows it can be unlawful, to reduce or withdraw services from disabled children or young people without proper or review of their needs. of Section 23 Monitor how LA duties Section 23 of the Children (1995) Act are carried out. Inclusion Dedicate new projects to disabled children and existing projects should include more disabled children. Mainstream facilities such as sports centres give free entry to disabled CYP & carers. Ensure for children’s services include information about disabled CYP. Support mainstream organisations to include disabled CYP. Joint Working Improve working between agencies (particularly education services and social work services, health and voluntary organisations), including by having centrally held information systems relating to disability rights to ensure that families do not fall between the gaps. Streamline and simplify the process of care and provision for disabled young children from the current multitude of services and forms. Service quality The Care Inspectorate should consider exploring the quality of services for disabled CYP. Services for disabled children should: Be of a consistently excellent quality Be appropriate for that individual child and their families Be timely and flexible (support to all as and when required) Prioritise value and output of services over cost. Breaks/ Care Hold the SG to account for its commitment to provide funding for increased respite provision each year and to increase its funding for short breaks for families who have severely disabled children. Discuss with the SG how these commitments will fit with children’s rights to express their views about short breaks and have these taken into account. Provide preventative/ early intervention instead of just responding when there is a crisis. Improve funding for community and home respite for families. Ensure arrangements are in for emergency care of disabled children and young people, when needed, provided by people and within settings with which the child is already familiar.
Additional research requests Research the following areas: The impact of the Equality Act 2010 on disabled CYP The effectiveness of strategies for tackling disability-related bullying The pattern of short breaks for disabled children across Scotland The high numbers of disabled children being excluded from school The implementation of Curriculum for Excellence for children with complex needs. Research the following areas: Key issues facing disabled CYP Numbers of CYP with Autism The impact of welfare reform on families with a disabled Long-term impacts of social expectations of disabled CYP Growing levels of meet and the current levels and types of demand and budgets What can be influenced in terms of local authority & government priorities Theme: Education GIRFEC Ensure that GIRFEC a holistic view of disabled children. Research the extent to which disabled children are being included within GIRFEC and what difference this is making in terms of social inclusion. Ensure that GIRFEC principles and practice are applied to disabled children as to any others. Ensure GIRFEC is properly monitored and implemented consistently across Scotland and teachers are fully aware of its implications. Early Years Concentrate a work stream of the Early Years Collaborative on families affected by disability. Workforce and Training Discuss with LAs the need to support teacher professional development through accredited and research based courses. Analyse the inclusion of disability equality teaching in schools. Promote the value of multi-disciplinary training in disability equality and communicating with disabled children. Ensure that public bodies are providing training for staff working with disabled CYP and their families across all services and at all levels. Ensure that professions allied to medicine are readily available to those disabled children and young people who would benefit from their services on an on-going basis. Ensure that staff-to-young-person ratios are safe and effective. Open channels of best- practice sharing and information exchange for families and practitioners. Improve disability awareness and training (and education on transitions) for social workers, teachers, health professionals, voluntary organisations, etc. Needs of disabled CYP in school Appropriately meet disabled children’s personal care and medical in school. Change the structure of ITE courses towards more, not less, content in the area of Additional Special Needs and do not disadvantage those with more complex needs.