High-quality care services meet the needs of our most vulnerable people 
Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 Children with Disabilities
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The Children with Disabilities Team was established in 2002 as a Renfrewshire wide resource. The team was initially based in the Paisley area relocating to Johnstone in February 2009.
The office base for the team is in Johnstone however we are a Renfrewshire wide resource.
The team aims:
- to protect children and young people with disabilities;
- to promote the independence of children and young people with disabilities;
- to support children and young people with disabilities to achieve their full potential;
- to support the families of children and young people with disabilities in the areas directly related to the child or young person’s disability;
- to support young people with disabilities in the transfer from child care to adult care services; and
- to work in partnership with other services ensuring that plans for children and young people with disabilities are co-ordinated, agreed and in place in a timely and transparent manner.
The team provides a comprehensive social work service where the primary need is directly related to the issue of the child or young person’s disability. This includes direct work with the child, young person or family and the provision of practical support including domiciliary support and respite.
General child care issues which are not related to the child or young person’s disability are dealt with by Social Work Area Teams.
The Children with Disabilities Team consists of two senior social workers, eight social workers, one resource officer, two family support officers and two and a half business support staff.
The team works closely with the PANDA Centre and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
The team also works closely with Clippens, Kersland and Mary Russell Schools.
What do we mean by a child or young person?
Children are people under the age of 18. Within Renfrewshire we refer to people aged between 12 and 18 as young people.
What do we mean by disability?
Our definition of disability centres on the impact on the child or young person. When discussing disability we mean a 'permanent and substantial disability' which prevents the child or young person from taking part in daily routines, activities and education appropriate to their age without specialist support.
Eligibility Criteria
The child or young person must:
- have their home address in Renfrewshire;
- be under the age of 18 and still in school education; and
- have a 'permanent and substantial disability' which prevents them from taking part in daily routines, activities and education appropriate to their age without specialist support.
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What do we mean by permanent and substantial?
Permanent – a condition which is not likely to improve. This includes those disabilities where there can be episodes of 'being better' and complex health needs including serious chronic or life limiting conditions.
Substantial – the degree of physical, learning or sensory disability of a child or young person is significant, life changing or life limiting. The application of the definition will consider the impact on the child, young person or their family. It will include exploring issues such as risk (to self and others), carer support, sibling support and the outcomes for the child or adolescent.
What services do we provide?
- Advice and information via duty system;
- Assessment to identify support needs;
- Arranging assessment by an occupational therapist for aids or adaptations to your home;
- Support at home;
- Residential respite;
- Shared care respite;
- Befriending;
- Sitter service;
- Counselling;
- Child protection;
- Advocacy; and
- Support into adulthood.
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Are there any exclusions to who we work with?
The Children with Disabilities Team does not offer services to children and young people and their families who have:
- behavioural difficulties such as ADHD or ADD;
- learning difficulties (dyspraxia/dyslexia);
- general or low level communication difficulties; and
- low level mental health problems
If a child or young person with the above issues requires support they should contact the local social work area team.
Children and young people with issues in relation to visual or hearing impairment can also contact the Sensory Impairment Team on 0141 847 4977.
Carer’s Self Assessment
Carers should be offered an assessment in their own right when a worker from Children with Disabilities Team is involved with their child or young person.
Carers can also complete their own assessment using the Renfrewshire Self Assessment - please click on this link to access more information.
If a brother or sister of a child or young person with a disability needs support we work with the local carers’ service to meet these needs. Further information is available from The Children with Disabilities Team or from the Renfrewshire Carers’ Centre.
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Who provides the services?
Staff from the Children with Disabilities Team provide most of the assessment services and also provide some of the direct care and support.
We purchase services for some children and young people from a number of voluntary agencies including Action for Children, Quarriers, Capability Scotland and Barnardo’s Scotland. These services include respite and home support.
The Children with Disabilities Team also purchases services from independent agencies where there is an assessed need and they are best placed to provide for the need.
When do the services operate?
The Children with Disabilities Team is open from 8.45am to 4.45pm Monday to Thursday and from 8.45am to 3.55pm on Fridays. Evening visits can be arranged.
Social Work Standby provides emergency services at all other times and can be contacted on 0800 811505 (free from most land lines however charges can apply for mobile phone users).
Other services are provided 365 days each year and are available at times which best suit the child, young person and family.
How do I know what services I will get?
The services are accessed via an assessment. The assessment will be conducted in partnership between the team and the child, young person and their family.
The assessment will gather information about the child, young person and family and how the disability impacts on them. The purpose of the assessment is to identify support needs and identify how those needs should be met.
The assessment will consider fully the views of the child, young person and family.
When the assessment is completed it will be written up in a formal document summarising the assessed need and how those needs will be provide.
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This document is known as a care plan and will contain the following information:
- what the needs identified are;
- what supports are being provided to meet these needs;
- who will provide the service;
- how the service will be provided; and
- when it will be provided (what time/day/flexibility) who will be responsible for reviewing the service provided.
You can contact us by:
email: childrenwithdisabilities.sw@renfrewshire.gov.uk
phone: 01505 342388
fax: 01505 342380
write to:
Children with Disabilities Team
Floorsburn House
Floors Street
Johnstone
PA5 8TL
or you can contact:
PANDA Centre
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Corsebar Road
Paisley
PA2 9PN
phone: 0141 314 6925
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Johnstone Hospital
Bridge of Weir Road
Johnstone
PA5 8YZ
phone: 01505 821530
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