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Council renews commitment to disabled children and young people

The views of disabled children and young people and their families must be considered to better understand their need to inform service delivery, Aberdeen City Council agreed today. 

An Action Plan has been created by the Council as part of its renewed commitment following a Care Inspectorate Thematic Review (August 2024) on disabled children and young people’s experiences of its Social Work Services.

The findings of the review stated that a robust approach to gathering and analysing data on disabled children and young people must be implemented, both in Social Work Services and wider, to effectively inform service planning and improvement. The multi-agency learning from the review will be used to inform the refresh of the Children’s Services Plan. 

Councillor Martin Greig, Convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “The council and its partners are committed to the responsibility of ensuring that all children with additional support needs and disabilities, and their families receive the support they need.

“The new Action Plan will enable us to keep on working together to improve engagement with disabled children, young people and with their families. Further effort will be given to understand their needs better. This will help to ensure that resources and expertise are focused and delivered where we can make a difference.”

Councillor Jessica Mennie, Vice-Convener, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Ensuring information is clear and easily accessible and communicated to children, young people and their families will further strengthen early intervention. It is also important that we continue to work with partners to help us all to get it right for every child.”

The Council’s Social Work Services has created the Action Plan, which will require the involvement of key stakeholders including the Council’s Education and Children’s Services; Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP), which is responsible for Adult Social Services; NHS Grampian and the Third Sector. 

The Action Plan can be viewed here. Thematic Review of Children with Disabilities Final.pdf

The report that went before Education and Children’s Services Committee can be viewed here. – Appendix A - Draft Action Plan.pdf

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