SEN support guide for professionals
Help for all practitioners and providers to identify how conditions can affect children and young people and how to access support with or without a diagnosis.
If you would like to make a suggestion or have a comment about this guide, please email SENDpartnership@lancashire.gov.uk.
8. Level 4 Acute / specialist support
Children’s Social Care has a responsibility to children in need under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989. That is, children and young people whose development would be significantly impaired if services are not provided. This includes children and young people who have a long lasting and substantial disability, which limits their ability to carry out the tasks of daily living.
A social care referral/request for support is also appropriate where parent/carers need practical support and respite at home because of a disabled child or young person’s complex care needs.
In these situations, Children’s Social Care will work with families on a voluntary basis, often in partnership with other professionals, to improve the welfare of the children/young people and to prevent problems escalating to a point that statutory child protection intervention is needed.
Education establishments to continue implementing the graduated response and Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycles.
If a child is being assessed for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC plan) then a parent carer's needs assessment Carer's assessments should be done at the same time.
Children and young people who have a higher level of need and have an Education, Health and Care Plan in place, may meet the threshold for assessment by the Children with Disabilities Team if they have a profound disability.
Level 4 emotionally based school avoidance is where school attendance has fallen below 75%, and children and young are at risk of educational neglect, due to support not being effective.
Level 4 emotional support is provided by CAMHS as an in-patient, where children and young people have significant mental health needs.
Children’s Social Care has a responsibility to children in need under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, to support children who are unlikely to achieve a reasonable standard of health and development without the provision of services, children with significant impairment of function/learning and/or life limiting illness, children whose parents and wider family are unable to care for them and families with significant mental or physical health needs which may be significantly harmful to their children.
Support can be requested either by phoning 0300 123 6720 (parent carers) or by completing the Requesting support from Children's Services form (professionals). If you care for a disabled child under 18, you can request a parent carers needs assessment Carer's assessments These are also known as Children Act assessments. The assessment will normally be carried out by a social worker at a visit to the home of your child.
Child and Youth Justice Service is a multi-agency service that is co-ordinated by the local authority and overseen by the Youth Justice Board. This is a statutory partnership, and the team is made up of staff from social care and education, the police, the National Probation Service and local health services.