Newcastle City Council

Home / Care and Wellbeing / Children's social care / Helping children with disabilities

We want to help you look after your children, help disabled children live at home and help young people with disabilities move into adulthood.

How can we help?

We give information and advice on social and health care problems. We can also help you contact other services, for example housing. We will work with you to find out what services you need, for example: 

• support in the home such as helping in the care of a disabled child or help with domestic tasks
• Childcare and holiday activity schemes
• Short breaks - during the day or overnight breaks
• welfare benefits - to find out if you are entitled to any benefits.

You can ask us for an assessment of your child’s needs or your needs as a parent or carer. Please contact the Children with Disabilities team to make an appointment. Alternatively you can ask other people such as a doctor, community nurse, health visitor or teacher to contact us for you.

Also see Azra - Support for BME families with special needs children

What is an assessment?

An assessment is when we talk to you about your child’s needs, and how we or someone else may help. We will help you look at your choices. If you look after a disabled child, you can ask for an assessment of your own needs.

We may talk to other people who know you or your family, for example your doctor, nurse or physiotherapist. We will ask your permission to do this.

We can assess your child at home, at our office or in hospital.

If you find it easier to talk to us in another language you can ask us to bring an interpreter when we see you.

Sometimes you can ask an advocate to help you speak up for yourself.  An advocate is independent and doesn’t work for social services. For advice on finding an advocate contact the organisations below.

What happens if you do not qualify for any services?

There may be times when we cannot help. If this happens we may be able to put you in touch with another organisation that can help you. Also visit the Families Service Directory for further details.

Will you be charged for services?

We do not charge to assess you or give advice and support. If the assessment leads to a care plan, we will tell you about any charges you may have to pay. Contact the Children with Disabilities Team.

Other organisations

Benefits Agency, Newcastle
Phone: 0191 275 2400

Benefits Enquiry Line
Phone: 0800 88 22 00

Contact a Family (North East) (external site, opens in a new window)
Phone and Fax: 0191 213 6300

Working Families Tax Credit
Phone: 0845 300 3900

Newcastle Special Needs Network
Phone: 0191 284 0480
Fax: 0191 213 0910

NHS Direct (external site, opens in a new window)
Phone: 0845 46 47

Parent Partnership
Phone: 0191 284 0480

Skills for People
Phone: 0191 281 8737

Page last updated: 21 November, 2011