Skip to main content

Children with Disabilities Team

The Children with Disabilities service supports children up to the age of 18 who have learning disabilities, a physical or sensory impairment or who have particular mental health difficulties.

We have an obligation to assess the needs of children and young people with disabilities and then to offer support and services, including a Personal Budget where appropriate, to meet the needs identified and those of their carers. 

For disabled children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the social care assessment will determine the social care element of that plan. We work closely with the SEN Team and Health services with regard to EHC planning.

We also work in partnership with others such as voluntary sector organisations, education providers and the Adult Social Care Learning Disabilities Team to ensure a smooth transition to adulthood for those young people who receive our services.

Depending on assessed need, we are able to provide a range of services including:

  • Support for children and young people and their families in their homes
  • Helping young people with the transition into adulthood
  • Personal care and behaviour support for families experiencing difficulties managing their child's care and behaviour in the home
  • Short breaks for parents and carers of a disabled child at home or in a different setting
  • Direct payments to parents, carers, or disabled young people over 16 years old to enable them to purchase care services
  • Short break overnight provision for children and young people
  • Community-based short breaks
  • Child protection and safeguarding
  • Fostering and other support for disabled children and young people in care
  • Carer’s assessments

The Children with Disabilities team consists of the Team Manager, Assistant Team Manager and a team of professional social workers.

If you wish to make a complaint or comment or send us a compliment, please contact Children.WithDisabilitiesDuty@merton.gov.uk or use the phone number below. If the matter is sensitive and/or personal, please ask for the contact details of the Children with Disabilities Team Manager explaining the reasons why you need to contact them directly.

If you remain dissatisfied, please follow Merton Council’s formal complaints process

Who to contact

Telephone
020 8545 4200
E-mail
Children.WithDisabilitiesDuty@merton.gov.uk
Notes
If you are concerned about the immediate safety or well-being of a child call 020 8545 4226 or 020 8545 4227 (020 8770 5000 out of hours)

Location

Name
Civic Centre
Address
London Road
Morden
Postcode
SM4 5DX

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Other Details

Availability

Referral required
Yes
Referral Details

To request a social care assessment, a carer’s assessment or to request a Short Break please contact us using the contact details above.

Our aim is to ensure that resources benefit those in most need, including those at risk of significant harm, whilst ensuring that all children and young people with a disability have appropriate access to mainstream services such as education, primary health, mental health care, after school activities, and holiday play schemes.

Where a child, young person or family requests an assessment, this is carried out by talking and listening to them and gathering information, with consent, from professionals who know the child or young person, such as GP, school and health visitor. The assessment will consider the specific needs of parents and other family members in their role as carers.

Please see Merton’s Short Breaks Local Offer for more details about eligibility and the thresholds for accessing these services.

Local Offer

Description

This is a specialist service for disabled children including those with SEN

Last updated: 13/07/2020
Back to top