Early help, care and support and transition for disabled children: Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

We undertook an inspection with assistance from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) (External link) and explored how Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is providing early help, care and support and seamless transition for disabled children and their families.

Transition in this context can mean moving from children’s to adult's services in social care, from children’s to adult's health services or from one phase of education to the next.

The inspection identifies that current practice results in good outcomes for children as well as areas for improvement and barriers to progress.

Key Findings

Strengths

Well-being – we found there is a strong vision for remodelling services for disabled children. There is an effective and improved response at the ‘front door’ of children’s services.

People – voice and choice – we found staff are positive and feel well supported by colleagues and managers.

Partnerships, integration and co-production – Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCTCBC) is developing an emotional well-being service jointly with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB).

Prevention and early intervention – we established there is an understanding of the social model of disability and an intention to improve equality of access for disabled children.

Areas for improvement

Well-being – we recommend there should be increased focus on family strengths, identification of personal outcomes and improved practice in relation to assessments of parent carers.

People voice and choice – we identified that there needs to be greater promotion of the voice of the child throughout services for disabled children, including use of advocacy.

Partnerships, integration and co-production – we recommend Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and RCTCBC continue to focus efforts to achieve a more joined up strategic approach to the advantage of citizens.

Prevention and early intervention – we identified a need for the development of alternative approaches to providing respite/ short breaks.

Next steps

We expect the local authority and local health board to give attention to areas for improvement in the report. We will monitor progress through our on-going performance evaluation activity with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

To see all our findings and recommendations read the full report below.