Public reports pack Wednesday 22-Jul-2015 19.00 Council

Page 82Embed quality into service through practice standards.Ensure that services are achieving consistently high standards and that this issustained.Ensure services are regularly evaluated.Engender an organisational culture that is committed to learning and continualdevelopment.Support the continuous improvement and development of the children’s workforce.Ensure that quality assurance activity is carried out in collaboration with practitionersand managers, to engender learning, accountability, and change.Participation of children with disabilities2.91 As of late 2014 to April 2015 the number of children and young people who are allocatedto the disabled children service has fluctuated between 288 – 305 service users. Thenumbers of children with disabilities within children social care are as follows: 21 childrenwho are looked after, 7 children who are subject to a child protection plan and 260children in need.2.92 Disabled children whose needs are not severe, profound and do not have such a highlevel of need are allocated to other teams within children's services. However CWDteam continues to provide information and advice to these teams.2.93 The Children with Disabilities Team have introduced various initiatives to increase theteam’s ability to communicate more effectively with our children and young people. Thishas included the development of contact cards for children with disabilities.2.94 Specialist training in communicating with children with disabilities has beencommissioned to ensure that social workers and Independent Reviewing Officers whowork with children with disabilities are confident in communicating with children who aredisabled. The introduction within the service of specialist software which will enable staffto send letters or design items such as contact cards and leaflets in a style which canbe made individual to the ability and communication needs of the child or young person.2.95 The Children with Disabilities Team is keen to ensure that the children and young peopleare able to participate in activities and consultation initiatives directed at children andyoung people who are in contact with Lambeth. This includes young people involved inLambeth’s Children Safeguarding Board young advisory group; LYV as well as attendingevents at Lambeth’s Adventure play ground: Charlie Chaplin. Specialist advocates forthose children who are looked after and have communication difficulties have also beenintroduced2.96 The Children with Disabilities Team continues to work closely with Lambeth’s VirtualSchool concerning the educational needs of children and with Lambeth’s SpecialistNurse for children looked after concerning the health needs of the children. They alsowork closely with colleagues in health and education to ensure families receive thesupport they need to care for their child or young person with a disability.16