The Council’s aim is that disabled children and young people and their families have the support they need to be fully participating members of the Bolton family.
Disabled Children’s Services are based within Bolton’s Children’s Services Department and works with colleagues across health, education and social care to help disabled children have the best start in life and the ongoing support they and their families need to fulfill their potential.
Services can be provided from birth up to the age of 18 to young people who have a long term disability and whose care needs are significantly and consistently greater than children and young people of the same age.
Parents of disabled children are encouraged to register basic information about their child's needs on a database known as ‘The Record’. This is used to inform future service development and also as a distribution list for the 'On the Record', newsletter. This details local events and developments as well as other items of interest and use to parents of young people with additional support needs.
The Children with Disabilities Team will assess and review the needs of children and their families and act as a link to other services, including transition support to help a young person and their parents to plan for adult life.
Once a child's needs have been assessed, family support services and or short breaks may be offered through BRIDGES, other provision, or where preferred a direct payment (this is a cash payment so that families can arrange their own support).
What’s New?
The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme was launched in 2007 to transform, and ensure higher priority for, services for disabled children and their families.
In November 2009 Bolton Council and PCT signed up to the EDCM (Every Disabled Child Matters) Charter. This is a set of commitments that show that disabled children are seen as a priority in our area BACPAC (Bolton Area Council for Parents and Carers) is developing to support parents have a say in how services in Bolton are provided. Check out their website (link on the right) for further information.