SEND local offer - social care

Early Help

Children may need extra support to be healthy, safe and reach their potential.  

Early Help is about identifying where a child and their family might need support in either the early years of the child's life or the early stages of a problem at any time in their childhood.  

Contact our dedicated team of help and support professionals on 01642 524188 or 01642 526123.

Find out more about how to access Early Help. 

Disabled Children's Team

This social work service helps children and young people who have a substantial and permanent disability. The Disabled Children's Team try to ensure that the child or young person can reach their maximum potential. One of the key roles of the team is to work with young people to prepare them for the transition to adulthood.

What does the transition to Adults Social Services look like for a young person? 

When a young person reaches 18 years old, they are able to transition into adult services. This is only when the time is right for the young person and adult social care are confident of the young person's needs for care and support.  

It is important that young people are supported by the right team. A social worker will complete an appropriate assessment to understand what advice and support the young person will need when they move into Adult Services.  

There are a lot of Adult Social Care teams including: 

• the Early Intervention and Prevention Team 
• the Sensory Loss Team
• the Mental Health Team
• the Learning Disability Team
• the Long Term Support Planning Team

The assessment and planning take into account the wellbeing of the young person and is all based around the individual's needs, wishes and outcomes.  

For more information you can visit the Adult Social Care section of the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council website or read our services for adults explained guide.

Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO)

The primary aim of the DSCO is to strategically lead in framing and developing social care elements of the SEND strategy across the local authority, in compliance with legislative requirements of the SEND Code of Practice (2015). The DSCO has in-depth knowledge, and understanding of both social care operations and the SEND reforms agenda and will identify areas where social care is weak or noncompliant with the SEND Code of Practice.

Within Stockton-on-Tees the DSCO is a registered Social Worker who sits within the SEND Service. The DSCO sits on multi-agency decision making panels, meets regularly with parents and carers, encourages the improved quality of social work input into the EHCP process and leads on a number of strategic areas.

Stockton's DSCO is Nicola Stott who can be contacted at Nicola.stott@stockton.gov.uk

Visit the Stockton Information Directory for social care services and organisations that support children and young people with SEND