Short breaks services

How to arrange an assessment

The Customer Service Team will screen the referrals. If the referral meets the eligibility criteria, the child or young person will be allocated a social worker from the Children with Disabilities Team, who will then be in contact to meet the child or young person and their family to begin the child and family assessment. 

Alternatively, the child or young person may be allocated to our early help service to complete an early help assessment (EHA) or our Family Assessment Support Teams (FAST) to complete a social care assessment dependent upon the needs highlighted within the referral and the child and young person’s circumstances. 

The Children with Disabilities Team accept referrals from parents, carers and professionals working with children and young people who have a diagnosed disability that meets the criteria of severe and profound. Parents or carers may prefer to speak to a professional who they know. If this is the case, then this professional can refer the child or young person to the Customer Services Team. 

The child and family assessment is used to decide whether a child or young person under 18, is eligible for social care support services. 

To make a referral please call our customer service centre on 01522 782111 or visit our children's services page