B
BUDDSBarnet Unified Document
for Down Syndrome

0-25 Children's Disability Team, Children's Social Care

Specialised social care support for children and young people with disabilities from birth to 25 years

MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub)

Barnet's 0 - 25 Disability Service offers social care support to children from birth to 25 who have a profound disability, severe disability, multiple disability or a complex and long-term health condition resulting in profound disability. Additionally, we offer a service to young people aged 18 to 25 who have a diagnosed learning or physical disability.

What do we do?

  • We provide advice and can direct families to national and local voluntary services.
  • If a child or young person meets the criteria of the 0 - 25 Disability Service for a social work service, a child and family assessment can be undertaken. This assessment will provide detailed information about the needs of the child and family, which will help develop a plan of support for the child/young person.
  • We offer a Short Breaks package to those children aged 0 - 18 who meet the eligibility criteria.
  • We provide a statutory safeguarding role for children and assess families where there are safeguarding concerns or where the parents may be struggling.
  • We provide a statutory safeguarding role for adults aged 18 - 25 who have disabilities.
  • We support children, young people and their families through transitions to adulthood.
  • We liaise with other agencies such as housing, education, health and occupational therapy and contribute to Educational Health Care Plans and Continuing Health Care assessments.

How to access our service?

For children aged 0 - 18, families can self-refer or be referred by another agency they are in contact with, such as a GP or a health worker.

Referrals are made via the Barnet Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0208 359 4066 or email mash@barnet.gov.uk.

The MASH team will then contact us to check if your child is likely to meet our eligibility criteria. You will need to have information that confirms details about your child's disability. This may be recent medical reports or letters from the medical consultants who are responsible for your child's care. We will not see these reports without consent. Once we have this information, we will complete an assessment to ascertain your child's needs. This will allow us to make recommendations on support and help for your child and the whole family. For adults aged 18-25, referrals are usually made via Barnet Social Care Direct 0208 359 5000 or email socialcaredirect@barnet.gov.uk.

Support available for children not eligible for social care support through the 0-25 Disability Service

Families of disabled children or those with special educational needs (SEN) not eligible for social care support through the 0 - 25 Disability Service can access information on a range of services aimed at supporting them and their child/ren achieve the best possible outcomes.

Disabled children's activities (Short Breaks)

Short Breaks are a range of play and leisure services for disabled children and young people aged 0 to 18 who live in Barnet. These services are targeted at children and young people who need additional support to access play and leisure services. We have a variety of organisations that provide the Short Breaks services.

Please visit our Short Breaks Directory.

The directory includes a list of providers that have met our quality threshold. You can view what each organisation has on offer to help you decide which activity will be most suited to your child's needs.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for a Short Breaks service, children and young people must be aged 0 to 18, receive an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the middle or high rate.

Barnet's Local Offer

Barnet's Local Offer gives children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families information about education, health and care services, leisure activities and support groups in their local area.

Referral to MASH

Submit a referral via the Universal Plus Referral Pathway.

Contacting MASH

Factsheet

The Down Syndrome Association have created a Social Care and Support factsheet.

Referring to Occupational Therapy

We will only accept referrals to the Occupational Therapy team if there are two functional needs. For example, difficulties using scissors, using a knife and fork to eat, and doing up shoe laces.

Contacting the Disabled Children's Occupational Therapy Team

You can reach their helpline on 020 8359 2000.

Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

We provide a community-based assessment service to children and young people under 18 years of age who have permanent and substantial needs (or such needs that are likely to continue beyond 12 months) arising from their disability. We provide these services through our 0-25 Disability Service Children's Occupational Therapy Team:

  • Advice on managing difficulties caused by disability or loss of ability.
  • Advice to assist carers in the daily management of a child/young person.
  • Advice on moving and handling at home.
  • Equipment to help with daily living and personal care, such as bathing and using the toilet.
  • Minor adaptations to the home, e.g. grab rails, stair rails and ramps.
  • Major adaptations such as lifts, bathrooms and showers.
  • Recommend rehousing if the current property is unsuitable and cannot be adapted.

How do we do this?

  • We will visit the child at home to carry out an assessment of needs.
  • During the assessment, identify what the child/young person and family want to be able to do in their daily activities.
  • We aim to build up a good relationship with the child/young person and family, to work with the child/young person to problem solve and make a plan of action.
  • A copy of the assessment is provided with an opportunity for feedback from the child/young person and the family.

How is a child referred to us?

A young person/parent can self-refer to the team or ask their health professional or social worker to do so on their behalf. Priority is given to those children with the highest degree of need.

Is there a charge for services?

The assessment and minor adaptations are free of charge. Any equipment provided will be on a long-term loan, normally also free of charge.

  • If you own your own property or are a private tenant, you may qualify for a Disability Facilities Grant to fund the work.
  • If you live in council properties, the council will arrange for the adaptations. You do not need to be financially assessed.
  • If you live in a Housing Association property, the Housing Association will pay for the adaptation, or you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Barnet Care and Repair Agency can offer assistance in applying for available grants or other funding to pay for the work, including loans or equity release - see contact details.

Who else do we work with?

The Occupational Therapy team works in partnership with a range of health professionals including social workers, Adult Occupational Therapy and Transition Services, Housing and Environmental Health Officers.

The referral can be made through the MASH website.

Contacting MASH