Safeguarding Disabled children and young people

There are several factors that contribute to disabled children and young people being at greater risk of abuse. These include communication barriers, increased isolation, misunderstanding the signs of abuse and inadequate support. Disabled children with behaviour or conduct disorders are at the highest risk of abuse. Other high risk groups include children with learning disabilities, speech and language difficulties, deaf children and children with health related conditions.

If a child is disabled this does not necessarily account for why they are showing particular behaviours and practitioners should always look beyond the disability or diagnosis. 

For further information and guidance see NSPCC.org.uk/safeguarding-child protection-deaf and disabled children [External Link] 

Assessment of disabled children and their carers 

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) [PDF Document] requires Statutory Safeguarding Partners and relevant partner agencies have a shared response to meet the needs of disabled children who have specific additional needs. When undertaking an assessment of a disabled child the local authority must also consider whether it is necessary to provide support under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (CSDPA) 1970 [external link]. Where a local authority is satisfied that the identified services and assistance can be provided under S2 CSDPA and the support is necessary to meet the child’s needs, the local authority must arrange this support.

Where a local authority is assessing the needs of a disabled child, a carer of that child may also require the local authority to undertake an assessment of their ability to provide, or continue to provide, care for the child under Section 1 of the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 [external link]. The local authority must take account of the results of any such assessment when deciding whether to provide services to the disabled child.

If the local authority considers that a parent or carer of a disabled child may have support needs, it must carry out an assessment under 17ZD of the Children Act 1989 [external link]. The local authority must also carry out such an assessment if a parent carer requests one. Such an assessment must consider whether it is appropriate for the parent carer to provide, or continue to provide, care for the disabled child in light of the parent carer’s needs and wishes.

Abuse of disabled children - protecting disabled children NSPCC guidance [external link]