The Disabled Children and Young People’s Team (DCYPT) is based at the Education Development Centre in Pelsall, Walsall. The team comprises a Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager, Senior Practitioner, eight qualified Social Workers and two child and family practitioners.
DCYPT provides a borough-wide service for children with disabilities; offering a social work assessment and care planning service to all children and young people aged 0-18 years who have a “permanent and substantial” disability and who reside in the Walsall Local Authority area.
When the assessment identifies that a disabled child requires specialist support the team will work with the child and their family to develop a plan that will seek to achieve good outcomes for that child. The plan may include direct payments and/or short breaks support. In accordance with the principles of the Children and Families Act 2014, the child and family are encouraged to work with the local authority in a joint collaboration to make the best possible plan for their child/young person.
Contacts are not taken directly by the DCYPT but are received through the front door of MASH All referrals that are considered to meet the criteria for DCYPT are passed to the team and since January 2015, this has included all safeguarding referrals.
We work closely with partners at the Short Breaks/Complex Care Panel to ensure that short breaks and direct payments are effectively used to support the child/young person and their families. All assessments of need and plans are robustly reviewed in collaboration with the child/young person; their family and partner agencies. The team is also engaging partners in the completion of the Education, Health and Care Plans.
