Children and young people with additional support needs

Staff in your local social work office can provide advice, information and counselling. A range of family support is available including:

• Home Care - help in the home with personal care or with other practical tasks where support is needed with caring for children
• Occupational therapy staff will assess the need for equipment to aid daily living routines or manage posture, as well as adaptations to remove the barriers in accessing the amenities within the home environment. There can also be advice on specific moving and handling needs as well as specialist support for children and their families affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Short breaks service - family based respite care for children and young people with additional support needs. This includes those on the autistic spectrum, children with physical or learning disabilities, communication or emotional difficulties or other complex health needs. This service offers access to overnight short breaks which support families and offer caring and leisure opportunities to children and young people
• Community based respite - Social Work Resources provide and purchase services to enable children with additional support needs to be supported in their own home and/or participate in social and recreational activities from which they would otherwise be excluded. Children who do not currently have access to existing services are able to access this service based on an assessment of need.
• Respite care can provide a programme of short periods of residential care. A short stay package of care or short break is developed offering a programme of activities to suit the needs of the child, some of this will take place in the unit and some in the local community.
• Welfare benefits information - we provide free and confidential information advice and representation on all aspects of benefit entitlement and debt problems through the local Money Matters Advice Service based in local offices.
• Sensory Impairment Specialist Staff are available to offer specific advice, information and assessment when a child has a visual, hearing or dual sensory loss. They may be able to recommend specific equipment, assist with re-training on independent living skills or assist in providing access to interpreting services, if there are major communication issues.
• Self-directed support - the Social Care (Self-directed Support (Scotland) Act 2013 introduced self-directed support. Self-directed support will help supported children and their carers to have more choice and flexibility over the way they receive and use the support available to them. "Supported children" are defined as those affected by disability or otherwise in need
• Families and young people who want to find out about this service and other services available to them can make contact through their local social work office. Social Work staff who do assessments will gather information about your current circumstances, needs and wishes, and with your permission, speak to other organisations or staff who have contact with your family. They will prepare a 'care plan' identifying the needs, support or services which may help. This 'care plan' will be reviewed on a regular basis by the local office staff.