Children with disabilities

Looking after children with disabilities can be rewarding, but it can also be stressful. Children’s Services have a specialist disabilities team which helps families and other carers. The service's main work is with children who have severe learning and/or physical disabilities, children within the autistic spectrum and children who are deaf.

We can arrange practical support, personal care, personal care in the home, short breaks, counselling and residential services. We can also put carers in touch with other specialist organisations.

The Children with Disabilities Team provides support, advice and information to families, carers and other professionals who are involved in caring for the disabled child in circumstances where the child’s disability has a significant impact on his/her day to day life.

We are committed to the rights of these children to fulfil their personal potentials, ambitions and their roles in society.

Parents can self refer by contacting the screening worker who will consider if a Child in Need Assessment is required. Following an assessment, the team can arrange practical support, personal care, personal care in the home, short breaks, counselling and residential services and can also put carers in touch with other specialist organisations. The team can also provide information in respect of specialist equipment for deaf children.

The social workers attached to the child development team also work with children and families who have been newly diagnosed with a disability. This team includes health professionals and Bangladeshi parent advisors.

Following an assessment the multi-disciplinary team meet to look at what kind of support can be offered. This might include:

• health services such as speech therapy or physiotherapy
• counselling
• help with educational provision
• welfare benefits.

Along with the family we regularly review all services that are provided.

Respite care for children with disabilities

We may provide respite care for children with disabilities through in-house services and those provided by the third sector or private organisations.

Supporting autistic children

Tower Hamlets offers a specialist service to disabled children and their families. We have a new service based at Phoenix School to work with children within the autistic spectrum disorders and their families.

For further information on services available for children with disabilities, please download this service guide (PDF 400k).

A Screening Worker is available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The Child Development Team can also be contacted via this worker.

Children with Disabilities Team
3rd floor
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG

tel: 020 7364 2724
email: CWD.screening@towerhamlets.gov.uk
fax: 020 7364 27314