Children and young people who are disabled or who have complex health needs should receive coordinated, high quality and family-centred services which are based on assessed needs; which promote social inclusion and, where possible, which enable them and their families to live ordinary lives. Every Child Matters: 'Change for Children' aims to improve outcomes for all children and young people, including disabled children. As many disabled children's needs are complex and cross traditional service boundaries, they are one of the groups who stand to gain the most from this programme. A child will be considered to be in need as a result of their disability if they have a substantial and permanent physical, visual, hearing, or intellectual impairment and that, resulting from this impairment, the child is limited or prevented from undertaking activities appropriate to their daily living. We know that social and environmental factors affect a child’s level of disability. We also know that the care needs of these children and the demands on parent/carer and siblings can be exceptional.
There are two Short Term Intervention units – Children and Young Adults Disability Service unit one and two
The short term intervention units are managed by a consultant social worker, and include a social worker, child practitioner, key worker, and a unit co-ordinator.
The role of the short term intervention units is to work with disabled children and young adults, offering short term assessed packages of support and social work intervention.
There is one Looked After Children unit – Children and Young Adults Disability Service unit three
The looked after children unit is managed by a consultant social worker, and includes a social worker, Key Worker and a Unit Co-ordinator.
The role of the looked after children unit is to support disabled children and young adults who receive significant overnight support through the Isle of Wight Council’s Children and Young Adults Disability Service.
There is also a Short Breaks unit – Children and Young Adults Disability Service unit four
The short breaks unit is managed by a consultant social worker, and includes two short break key workers, an Information Officer and a Short Breaks Admin Officer.
The role of the short breaks unit is to develop short break opportunities for all disabled children and young adults on the Isle of Wight.
There are other therapeutic workers within the service who work across the three social work units.