Abstract

As it is a Government priority to improve services and support for disabled children and their families, CSM has collected information on disability services and investment in them and tracked change as policy has been implemented. From 2005 to 2007, information was collected on dedicated disability services and a report summarising the findings was prepared in 2008.

A significant change was made in mapping disability services in 2008 and was further adapted in 2009. This change was in recognition of the support disabled children and young people receive from a range of health and social care services, such as, school health, general paediatric services and short breaks. In 2008, disability services were redefined as services that target and support children and young people with a disability. This included children with a physical disability, learning disability, sensory impairment and children with complex needs. A further change was made in the 2009 collection where all services were asked to identify if any part of the service/team provided a dedicated service or dedicated sessions for disabled children. These services, and those that selected the equipment and wheelchair service or palliative care service types, were then asked a range of follow up question including a number of Department of Health disability proxy indicator questions. Questions asked of services for disabled children included the provision of a key worker system, the type of assessments carried out and transition arrangements to adult services.

In addition to service provision data, the 2009/10 data tables and report includes data on organisation arrangements for supporting disabled children entered by PCT commissioners and local authorities (about their own arrangements and those of the area's Children's Trust). This includes data from a PCT commissioner questionnaire where each PCT was asked about various aspects of their commissioning arrangements. The data about Children's Trusts arrangements was collected from local authorities (LAs) who were asked to complete a questionnaire on behalf of the local Children's Trust. Local authorities were also asked questions about their own arrangements for disabled children.

Data issues

Prior to 2008, descriptions of disability services referred to dedicated disability services only. A significant change of approach in 2008 extended the disability questions to all services that indicated that they wholly or partially targeted work with disabled children, young people and their families. The way in which services were asked to identify they supported disabled children was changed in 2009. All services when asked what service they provided were asked if any part of the service/team provided a dedicated service or dedicated sessions for disabled children. Due to these changes we no longer report information on the investment in disability services. Please note that not all local authorities took part in the children's services mapping exercise and if there is no response this is likely to be because they did not complete the questionnaire.

Relevant Policy Documents

• SDC: National Audit Office (2003) Services for disabled children. London: NAO.
• TFS: Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills (2003) Together From The Start - Practical guidance for professionals working with disabled children (birth to third birthday) and their families. London: Department of Health.
• YM: Department for Education and Skills (2006) Youth Matters: next steps. London: TSO.
• AH: Department for Children, Schools and Families (2007) Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families. London: TSO.
• BCBL: Department of Health (2008) Better care, better lives: Improving outcomes and experiences for children, young people and their families living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. London: TSO.
• NSFCC: Partnerships for Children, Families and Maternity (2008) Consultation on a National Framework for Assessing Children's Continuing Care. London: Department of Health.

• ES: Department for Children, Schools and Families, Department of Health and SureStart (2009) Early support: helping every child succeed. www.earlysupport.org.uk.

• VPCP: Valuing People Support Team, Transition Champions Pack. http://valuingpeople.gov.uk/dynamic/valuingpeople103.jsp