Children's social care support can provide help to children and their parents if the child:
- needs support with maintaining their health or development
- has a disability
- is in need of protection
- is fostered, adopted or lives in residential care
A social care professional can provide practical advice and information to help the family. They might:
- do an assessment of your child’s and family’s needs
- provide immediate help
- give you information about other support organisations that could help
- involve other professionals when assessing the help your child or you may need
Support for families
If you, your family or someone you know needs support, visit help for families.
Professionals
Find out how to get in touch if you are a professional who needs to speak to someone about a child.
If your child has special educational needs or a disability (SEND)
Disabled children are considered 'children in need' under the Children Act 1989 which means that families can request an assessment to consider the needs of their child.
Find out more about the support available for children and young people with SEND or see details of Plymouth’s SEND Local Offer on the Plymouth Online Directory.
Assessment and support
An assessment is a way of finding out about your child, you and your family. It also identifies the support that you may need.
A social worker completes the assessment. The assessment involves collecting information about your child and family.
We may ask other professionals who know you and your child well for information about your child and family such as teachers, doctors, health visitors and childcare providers.
The assessment needs to be carried out within 45 working days from the point of referral.
The social worker will then agree a plan of action with your help. This could be:
- providing advice
- recommending other services
- agreeing a plan of support