FAQ

Q

I’m a parent carer.  Can I have a Carers Assessment?

A

Assessments for disabled children are carried out under the Children’s Act 1989.  Local councils have a duty to assess a ‘child in need’ under the age of 18.  The assessment considers all the help that your disabled child needs, the needs of any other children in the family and the help that you may need to care for the disabled child.  This assessment can be combined with the parent carer’s assessment, and could be carried out by the same person at the same time.

Parent carers of children under 18 can access a combined child, parent and family assessment via JIGSAW, Southampton City Council’s integrated health and social care provision. They support children and young people and their families who have a Southampton address with a significant level of need. Jigsaw's phone no is: 023 8091 5702. The referral criteria is here: http://sid.southampton.gov.uk/kb5/southampton/directory/service.page?id=nStqYS7rVXQ. 

Who can have a Children’s Act Assessment?

Local councils have a duty to assess a ‘child in need’ under the age of 18 for any services that they or their family may need. A ‘child in need’ is defined as one of the following:

• a child who is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by a local council
• a child whose health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of services
• a child who is disabled

Note: The Children Act considers a child disabled if the child is blind, deaf, non-verbal, suffering from a mental disorder of any kind, substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed

How do I arrange a Children Act Assessment?

You can request a Children’s Act assessment by contacting or writing to Southampton City Council requesting that an assessment of the needs of your child and your family is carried out, explaining that your child is disabled and a child in need.  

You should describe your child’s impairment, and (if you have one), you could provide a copy of any diagnosis of your child’s disability. You should also describe what difficulties you are having and the type of help you would like. Alternatively you could ask your GP, health visitor or voluntary organisation to contact them on your behalf. If your child’s educational needs are also being assessed then both can be done at the same time.

The local council should respond immediately (should be within one working day), letting you know whether it will carry out the assessment. The assessment will normally be carried out by a social worker at a visit to the home of your child but other agencies may also be involved, such as health and education.

Clarification about the term disability under the Equality Act can be found on this webpage that discuss it in relation to autism. https://planetautismblog.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/aspergers-and-high-functioning-autism-a-disability-in-law/

If you are refused an assessment and you feel that this is wrong you should make a complaint using the council’s complaint process. Link to complaints webpage: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/council-democracy/have-your-say/comments-complaints/complaints.aspx Link to specific complaints policy for Children’s Services http://www.southampton.gov.uk/policies/Childrens-Complaint-Policy_tcm63-361791.pdf

You can also contact your local councillor regarding this: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/whereilive/default.aspx?UPRN=100060696723

You can find more information about this on this fact sheet: http://www.carersuk.org/files/section/4630/factsheet-e1029--assessments-and-the-care-act-after-april-2015.pdf