GOOD PRACTICE

Bristol - development of services for disabled children and those with emotional, behavioural and mental health problems
Summary of Context
As a large Unitary Authority, with a multi-cultural population in excess of 400,000, Bristol has both wealthy areas and deprived estates. With a combination of joint finance monies, quality protects monies and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Strategy funding, Bristol Social Services, in partnership with Education services and the Health Authority developed a range of community based support services for disabled children and those with special needs.

Good Practice
These services included:

  • a portage service for under 5s with behavioural difficulties including autistic spectrum disorders;
  • a training scheme for frontline workers;
  • a specialist service for under 8s at risk of exclusion or accommodation;
  • psychological support for residential care workers;
  • a scheme in partnership with the National Pyramid Trust that worked with disaffected children in Year 5 of primary education, in schools feeding to one of the failing secondary schools; and
  • a specialist family support team with workers able to provide home based respite, support and activities for disabled children during weekends, evenings and holidays as well as at times of family crisis.

Benefits

  • A reduced demand for residential respite.
  • Reduced demand for tiers 3 and 4 CAMHS services.
  • Increased numbers of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties accessing mainstream schooling, successfully.
  • Improved transitions to secondary schooling with a reduction in exclusions.
  • There was also evidence of a reduction in numbers of children becoming looked after, though this work was alongside other developments aimed at achieving similar results.
Contact: Ian McDowall Tel: 0117 954 8602