Children's Social Care and SEND

Where a child or young person has been assessed as having social care needs in relation to their SEND, social care teams:

  • Must secure social care provision which has been assessed as being necessary to support a child or young person’s SEND and which is specified in their EHC plan
  • Should provide early years’ providers, schools and colleges with a contact for social care advice on children and young people with SEND
    Must undertake reviews of children and young people with EHC plans where there are social care needs
  • Should make sure that for looked after children and care leavers, the arrangements for assessing and meeting their needs across education, health and social care are co-ordinated effectively within the process of care and pathway planning. They should also avoid duplication and delay, including in particular liaising with the Virtual School Head for looked after children.

Where children or young people with SEND also have a Child in Need or a Child Protection plan, the social worker should ensure the statutory timescales for social care assessments are met and any assessments are aligned with EHC assessments wherever possible.

The Children's Services Contact Team is the single point of contact fro services for children, young people and families in Islington who may need extra help and support.

Islington Disabled Children's Service is an integrated, multi-agency and co-located partnership services offering information, advice, assessment, intervention and support to children with severe and complex needs.

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