Children with Additional Support Needs Team

Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership have a specialist Children with Additional Support Needs Team as part of their child care provision.  The team also consists of a Young Carer's Support Worker. The team is based at Princes Street House, Port Glasgow and comprises of:

  • 1 senior social worker
  • 6 social workers and
  • 2 transition workers

The Children with Additional Support Needs Team works closely with children and young people and their families, where the child / young person is aged 0 – 19 years and has a severe disability (physical, sensory or learning) and / or a longterm complex health condition or if the child has a moderate learning disability but also has additional permanent significant health needs. There are supports in place from our transition service to support children moving from child services to adult services.

As a team we take referrals from partner agencies, parents and carers. Under Section 23 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 the Local Authority has a duty, when asked, to assess children / young people affected by disabilities and their carers to determine the needs of the child / young person and the carer's ability to provide care for them.  The section 23 assessment is based on the principles of the Scottish Government's policy framework Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC, 2008).  This framework puts the child at the centre, and strives to ensure that every child receives the support they need, when they need it, and wherever possible in their own community.  The assessment will be undertaken in partnership with the child and family taking account of their needs and views and existing strengths within family and community networks.  Identification of intervention, service provision and support needs will then form the basis of care planning.

Services are then provided to assist in minimising the effects of a child’s disability, and to give disabled children/young people and their families the opportunity to lead lives that are as normal as possible.  Families have the choice under Self Directed Support legislation to select, arrange and manage the agreed services themselves through provision of a direct payment or have this done on their behalf by the team.