Children and Young People Disability Service (Camden Council)

((Also known as CYPDS. Part of the Children's Safeguaring and Social Work division in Camden))

The Children and Young People Disability Service (CYPDS) is a specialist Social Care provision for children and young adults with complex and profound disabilities.

We work with children, young people and young adults and their families from birth up to the age of 25 offering a range of statutory and social care support needs.

CYPDS works closely with a range of statutory and voluntary service providers including education, health and housing to ensure a holistic package of support is in place to promote positive outcomes for children and young adults including a clear focus on the young person’s transition to adulthood.

This may include information, guidance and advice on local, universal provision and services, Short Breaks (respite), as well as Child in Need, Child Protection, Looked After Children statutory services and Adult personalised budgets for young adults over the age of 18.

Contact details

Contact Name: Crina Popa
Contact Position: Head of Children and Young People Disability Service
Telephone: 0207 974 4867
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternative Contact: Please contact - CYPDS Duty number 0207 974 3597

Address

Address: Kentish Town Health Centre
2
Bartholomew Road
London
Postcode: NW5 2BX

Further details

Ward: Cantelowes Ward
Last checked date: 24/10/2016
Record ID: 40087

Local Offer

Local Offer Age Bands: Preparing for Adult Life 14-25
Children under 5
School Age Children & Young People 5-18
SEN Provision Type: Targeted; Specialist

Where is the service located and what areas does it cover?

Our service works across a number of offices in Camden, but we are predominantly co-located with the MOSAIC Services for children with disabilities, based at the Kentish Town Health Centre, which is above the James Wigg Health Centre in Kentish Town.

We also have social work and health colleagues working with young adults from the age of 18 onwards based at 5 Pancras Square in Kings Cross.

Who does your service provide for?

Children and young people from birth up to the age of 25 who present with a substantial and permanent disability (evidence gathered from the professional network involved in the families life). The disability may be a cognitive disability (learning disability) or a physical or sensory impairment.

Children and young people who meet the criteria for the CYPDS and are permanent residents in Camden.

Children and young people who meet the criteria for the CYPDS would predominately attend a specialist educational provision and have full time support hours identified within their Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or their Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

How can a child or young person start using the service?

Services are provided following a referral subject to assessment. Currently there are a number of ways that a referral can be made:

CYPDS accepts referrals for short breaks services through the Self Assessment Referral Tool (SART). This is for families seeking short breaks core offer support for children and young people up to the age of 18. A link to the SART can be found on the Local Offer website and can also be emailed to families and professionals by contacting the CYPDS duty telephone number on 020 3317 2221 or by emailing [email protected].

For children under the age of 5, who present with a range of complex health and social care needs, referrals can be made to the MOSAIC Single Point of Referral (SPoR).

CYPDS also accepts referrals from professionals for children and young people under the age of 18 using the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). Again this form can be obtained by professionals working with the family by contacting the CYPDS duty telephone number on 020 3317 2221 or by emailing [email protected].

A small amount of referrals for the CYPDS may come through our Children and Families Contact Team screening process for children and young people under the age of 18, usually where there are concerns regarding a child or young persons wellbeing and that may require statutory intervention such as Child In Need (CIN), Child Protection (CP) and Looked After Children (LAC). Referrals may also come to the attention of the CYPDS through Adult MASH, where there are concerns regarding a young adult in need.

CYPDS accepts referrals for young adults over the age of 18 and up to their 25^th birthday from professionals and families through the current CLDS Referral Form. With the families consent, the CLDS referral form is shared with the adult health colleagues as part of a dual referral process to ensure that both social care and health needs are considered and assessed. Again this form can be obtained by professionals working with the family by contacting the CYPD duty telephone number on 020 3317 2221 or by emailing [email protected].

It is anticipated that referrals will become more streamlined over time.

How are decisions made about eligibility for your service?

Under the age of 18 (children and young people)

In order to meet the criteria for a service from the CYPDS for children and young people under the age of 18, the child must firstly meet the requirements of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989 which defines disability as follows:

“a child is disabled if he is blind, deaf or dumb or suffers from mental disorder of any kind or is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed”

Not all children who are defined as having a disability under s17 will meet the threshold for a service from the CYPDS.

In order to establish the level of the child’s needs relating to their disability and whether they do in fact meet the threshold for a service from the CYPDS, a functional needs assessment (FNA) which looks across a range of developmental needs would be undertaken in conjunction with the most relevant professional.

To meet the criteria, the child must score at least 2 moderate or 1 severe or profound needs which has been identified by the relevant professional.

Over the age of 18 (young adult 18-25)

From the age of 18, where it is identified that a young adult has a substantial and permanent disability arising from cognitive, physical or sensory impairment, the CYPDS will consider the young adults needs under the framework of the Care Act 2014. The CYPDS will consider the ‘Wellbeing criteria’ that is outlined in the Care Act 2014 and any eligible needs that arise from or are related to a physical or mental impairment.

At present the CYPDS does not have an integrated health element to the service for young adults over the age of 18. Therefore referrals are currently made by the CYPDS to the relevant adult services as follows:

Health and learning disabilities:

To determine eligibility for learning disability adult health services a referral will be made by the CYPDS to Camden learning Disability Service (CLDS) health colleagues.

People with learning disabilities experience life-long impairments in cognitive and adaptive functioning and therefore assessment of the young adults health needs will be determined on the following criteria:.

Cognitive functioning is assessed using a standardised measure of intelligence. The measure that is used most often is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition. This involves the completion of a number of “Verbal” and “Performance” sub-tests and yields a Full-Scale IQ score. Learning disabilities are partially defined by a Full Scale IQ score of less than 70.

Adaptive functioning is assessed through interview, observation and/or the completion of standardised checklists such as the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS). Learning disabilities are partially defined where a significant, life-long impairment in at least two major areas of functioning is identified. The areas we assess include communication, community use, functional academics, home living, health & safety, leisure, self-care, self-direction, social and work skills.

Both the cognitive and adaptive functioning of the person are considered when we assess whether someone has Learning Disabilities. There are many people who would score less than 70 on an assessment of cognitive functioning but who do not have significant problems in adaptive functioning, and we would not consider these individuals to have Learning Disabilities.

Health and physical or sensory disabilities.

Where the young adult does not have a learning disability but has health needs in respect of their physical or sensory needs a referral will be made to the Adult Social Care locality Service where the young person resides.

NB: please be aware that if you reside in Camden, but your GP is located outside of the borough, Camden health will not become involved and health services will be sourced from the borough in which your GP is based. This could lead to a social care and health services being delivered from different boroughs. Please do contact the CYPDS duty manager on 020 3317 2221 or by email to [email protected] if you require further information.

How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning?

Young people under the age of 18 and their families are encouraged to attend their Short Breaks Panel and share with the Short Breaks Chair their views and wishes regarding their services.

An ‘Intouch’ newsletter is sent out quarterly to families children and young people receiving services.

There are monthly Short Breaks drop in sessions

There are quarterly transitions drop in sessions held by the CYPDS manager Luciana Frederick.

Representatives from the CYPDS attend the Camden Special Parents Forum.

A young persons focus group is currently being arranged as part of the procurement process for re-commissioning of Short Breaks for 2017.

A formal consultation process took place last year with regards to the ‘Camden financial Challenge’ and further formal consultations will be initiated in 2017.

The CYPDS encourage regular feedback from children, young people and their families, by actively listening to what families want and encapsulating their views through the assessment and review process. The CYPDS use a number of communication tools including the use of team ipads and apps to ensure that children and young people have every opportunity to express their views despite the challenges they face with any communication difficulties.

Is your service fully accessible?

Families, young people and adults wishing to access MOSAIC at the James Wigg Practice and 5 Pancras Square have access to the buildings which includes non step access and lifts. Ground floor meeting rooms are available for families to meet with CYDPS Staff in both buildings.

What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had/or will be they be getting?

All staff, whether they work predominately with adults or child’s and young people have mandatory training in the area of SEND.

Who should a service user contact if they want to raise a concern or complain about something?

In the first instance, please contact the CYPDS Duty manager or Duty Social Worker either by telephone on 020 3317 2221 or by email [email protected]. Alternatively a request can be made to speak with one of the Team Managers or the Head of Service through the routes above.

A request can also be made for a copy of the complaints procedure or by contacting the relevant complaints department as follows:

In relation to a child up to the age of 18, use the online form at: www.camden.gov.uk/complaints or call on 020 7974 6673

In relation to and adult from the age of 18 up to 25 email: [email protected]

Who can a parent carer/young person contact for further information?

Please contact the CYPDS Duty manager or Duty Social Worker either by telephone on 020 3317 2221 or by email [email protected]

For impartial advice, families can also contact the Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) by calling 020 7974 6264 or by email to [email protected],

The Local Offer is a free and impartial service provided by Camden Local Authority. Any service or provider mentioned in this Local Offer, does not represent a recommendation or endorsement of the service or quality of the service provided. You are responsible for undertaking your own checks to determine suitability of the service and provider.