COVID-19 Update from CYPDT - With regards pay for PA’s employed through Direct Payments during this covid-19 pandemic. It has been agreed that BFFC and ACS will adopt a unified approach, detailed below.

• If the PA has been asked not to work by the Employer then they should still be paid their usual Salary

• If the PA is unable to work because they are Self Isolating then it should be SSP

This has been agreed until the end of June 2020 at which point it will be reviewed.

Children and Young People’s Disability Team

The Children and Young People’s Disabilities Team (CYPDT) assesses and supports children and young people between the ages of 0-18. The legislation that covers the work of the team is the Children Act (1989), the Children and Families Act (2014) and the Care Act (2014).

The team comprises of social workers and occupational therapists.

The aim of the CYPDT is to ensure that all disabled children and young people are supported within their families, that they are encouraged to achieve their maximum potential in achieving independence, education, employment and that they are fully included and valued members of their local communities.

One of the key roles of the team is to work with young people to prepare them for the transition to adulthood and support them through the process.

The CYPDT helps disabled children and young people with meeting personal care needs and advises on equipment and property adaptations that enable independent living. The team also recognises the important role of Carers, offering assessments and respite where appropriate.

Personal budgets and direct payments may also be offered to help plan the support required to meet eligible needs.

Who is able to receive a service?

A child under the age of 18 will be eligible for a service from the CYPDT if they have any of the following conditions/impairments:

• A diagnosis of severe or profound
  • learning disability
  • physical disability
  • sensory disability
  • complex medical needs or a long term condition expected to disable the child for more than one year
  • life-threatening illness
  • communication disabilities or behavioural difficulties related to the child’s disability (e.g. autism)
  • developmental delay
  • combination of disabilities, which individually are not severe but together cause as much stress as a very severe disability
• And that the effects of any of the conditions listed above are likely to impact on the developmental impairment or cause significant harm

You can learn more about our local Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) offer here.

How do you make a request for a service for children under18?

Children's Single Point of Access can be contacted on 0118 937 3641.

If your child has been assessed by a CYPDT officer and they have told you that your child is not eligible, you may still be able to access some services directly.  The Reading Services Guide provides information on services and provision available in Reading and can be accessed at www.reading.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer

How do you make a request a service for young adults 19-25?

Contact Adult Single Point of Contact - 01189373747.

If the young person has been assessed by a CYPDT officer and has told you that the young person is not eligible, you may still be able to access some services directly.  The Reading Services Guide provides information on services and provision available in Reading and can be accessed at www.reading.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer

The Family Information Service provides information on the SEND Local Offer on behalf of Brighter Futures for Children, which is contracted to deliver the SEND/Local Offer service. Brighter Futures For Children - Website