Will need a lot of support moving to adulthood Must have specialist equipment Disabled children and young people within this category of need are likely to have an allocated social worker appointed to work with them. Areas of Need Critical Example Substantial Example Targeted/ Moderate Example Universal/ Low Child or Young Person’s Development Needs Chronic or life limiting condition Child has a substantial and permanent disability, requiring 24hr a day assistance to meet their need Child cannot be discharged home from hospital without occupational therapy assessment and possibly provision of aids Child has complex physical needs and is likely/could be requiring continuous physical or medical care At risk of significant harm Persistent / extreme challenging behaviour The impairment, chronic health and life limiting condition have a substantial impact on the quality of the child/young person and their family’s life Danger of moving into critical domain Child needs an occupational therapy assessment to prevent delayed or impaired development Child likely/could be requiring continuous physical care Provision of services the same as critical but not an immediate intervention required Less severe impact of impairment upon child and parent/carer Assistance required to enable child to access leisure/community activities necessary for their continued development without parental support Child requires aids or adaptations to enable independent living which can be provided by targeted services such as Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language, CAMHS, Early Help parenting support, Parents Advisory Groups, Child Development Centre, Educational Psychologists Child wishes to attend peer group social event but needs adult assistance to access it Child could be independent in self care if adaptations available. Examples of targeted support include Occupational Therapy, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Newham Educational Psychology Service, Newham Behaviour Support Service, Speech and language therapy, Community and Voluntary Sector Groups, Early Help Services including Foundations for Learning and Families First, Family Nurse Partnership, Child whose independent living skills are slightly impaired by a level of disability but their needs can be met by advice and support to access universal services Example signposting to mainstream provision such as leisure activities or independent organisations Examples of other support include Health Visiting Services, Children’s Centres and Early Years, Schools, Integrated Youth Services,
Parenting Capacity In substantial excess of that would be provided to a child by parent /carer without impairment Immediate risk of family breakdown without agencies’ intervention/ or statutory obligation to provide Parent/carer might need a break from the constant supervision of complex health care needs (manual handling) Severe sleep deprivation Parent/carer having considerable difficulty in providing physical, emotional care, supervision or communication required due to child’s impairment or the relationship with main carer/parent is at risk of breakdown Parent/carer managing, but there could be a substantial risk of harm or family breakdown, planned intervention likely to prevent reaching the critical stage are however coping with some difficulty Parent/carers do need a break to spend time with other children in the family or to meet their own social needs Parent/carer are showing signs of deteriorating health or stress The demands of caring for the child with a disability means they cannot provide appropriate care and involvement in other children’s lives No parenting concerns Family & Environmental factors Sole parent/carer illness, impairment, bereavement or addiction with extreme levels of challenging behaviour poses a risk to carers and other family members Carers unable to maintain safe level of care without some personal time There is a risk of serious harm to another person’s health and safety Home environment is unsafe. Carers have additional needs of their own which is impacting greatly on their ability to care and meet the needs of their disabled child Serious concerns with regard to parent/carers home environment such as health and safety risks Parent/Carers own health care needs are impacting on their ability to care appropriately and children at risk. Some reasonable adjustment may be required Assessment by an occupational therapist to assist with adaptions Family environment is appropriate and meets needs well