EHCP and social services? Feeling really anxious about the entire process.

[Rolypops]

DD is 9 and has just been accepted for an EHCP assessment that the school have been driving for. I have always been a little unsure about it as DD's behaviour has always been significantly worse at school than at home, but I came round to the idea after lockdown when she wasn't making progress the way she had hoped and when her sensory issues began to affect her mental health, she is now being assessed for autism and likely to be diagnosed. The school told us the EHCP would be a useful thing for her to have both now in primary and looking forward to secondary.

However, looking at the portal it seems that social services have been asked for advice alongside us, the school etc. Is this standard? DD has never been involved with social services and the school has never once told us this would be part of the process. In fact I feel we have been given very little in the way of information through this entire process and I am now wondering whether we have done the right thing, it just feels like I don't recognise the little girl they are writing about .

Any advice or guidance on what to expect would be really appreciated as I feel really overwhelmed by how fast it has moved/whether I am doing the right thing and now if I will be getting a call from social services?!

Thanks!

The EHCP process is entirely run by childrens services, social care.

It's standard, OP. If they don't know your child, they'll simply reply to that effect.

What is it you are concerned about? My dd has a ehcp and is now home educated the home educated officer is part of children’s services what is it that worries you?

I'm not entirely sure really. I had a very bad spell of post natal depression with my eldest and had some psychiatric treatment for a while. The entire time I was terrified I would have DD taken away and for some reason this has dredged all of that up again. Do they look at parental mental health history? I've been well for a long time but do still suffer with anxiety and am recently bereaved. The whole thing just feels suddenly very real and I feel like I've massively let DD down.

There's a standard list that they have to consult, which includes social services. Don't worry, it's just part of the process. If you aren't involved with SS then they won't have anything to say.

It's standard. They will usually send back a "nil known" response and that's it.

However, an EHCP may now at Section H include a social care provision. From Beyond Autism: Section H1 of the EHC plan must specify all services assessed as being needed for a disabled child or young person under 18, under section 2 of the CSDPA. These services include:

• practical assistance in the home
• provision or assistance in obtaining recreational and
• educational facilities at home and outside the home
• assistance in travelling to facilities
• adaptations to the home
• facilitating the taking of holidays
• provision of meals at home or elsewhere provision
• assistance in obtaining a telephone and any special
• equipment necessary
• non-residential short breaks (included in Section H1 on
• the basis that the child as well as his or her parent will benefit from the short break)

When we applied for an EHCP the school also made a request for something which would have fallen within this part so we DID get a social care assessment. It's done by the children's disability team, which is a totally different team to the child in need team.

(disclaimers: this is my experience, I have no idea if it's what should have happened, it's what did happen)

EHC stands for Education, health and (social) care. All 3 need to be asked for advice, but it happens that in some cases, such as yours, where a child is not known to social care, they have no information on a child. Sometimes, parents with no SC involvement may get a call from a social worker to just check out what your child's needs are and how you are doing, and they would then write that your child is not known to them but they had a catch up with you. It is nothing to worry about at all, just part of the overall process.

By way of further reassurance, the disabled child social care team are there to ensure that your child can fully access things outside of education, and as she gets older and becomes more independent they can be very helpful.

Its actually quite tricky to even get social care to assess - they’re so stretched they’re not looking for work, so often it’s a battle to get them to get involved and yet their input is needed for things like respite and some extra curricular things.

You may find this helpful OP https://www.ipsea.org.uk/what-happens-in-an-ehc-needs-assessment

Hi OP my dd has an EHCP and yes social services were called and informed. As others have said its standard for all EHCPs. I had an interview with a social worker over the phone. I think it would have been in person but it was just after covid so not normal times.

She had a long list to work through but it was all friendly and fine. She wasn't trying to catch me out if you see what I mean? My dd was delayed her whole life (and had no diagnosis at that point) and I left my ex DH due to his drug use so we are not a model family!

i also work with children's social workers. They honestly aren't sitting there waiting to remove children from their families.

They will want to point you to services if they can. All that will happen is they'll likely do the visit/ call then give you a list of the 'local offer' which is a list of clubs and things for children with SEN.

The reason for them being involved is they have a key to different things some people may need and may not know they're entitled to. For example my dd has physical disabilities and they helped us get an occupational health referral to assess our home for adaptations. They pointed me to a service that helped pay for a bigger pushchair for her and will help with a wheelchair in time.

If you tell them you are struggling with housing or something they may be able to help with getting you higher on the council house list. If you were struggling with money they could refer to a food bank/ debt advice. Etc etc

The bit of the 'system' that ends up in the news is children being removed but the whole idea of it is to help you honestly.

EHCP's are a legal working document which holds the school to account. They are totally child focused. Your health history is not relevant. This is to ensure that the school is meeting the legal requirements for your child's educational and emotional wellbeing and supports the school to fund it.

You are also able to remove from the fund to support outside provision but that takes away from school provision. The EP will explain that to you.

What school based provision is in place at the moment? Have the school completed a provision with current targets? Are they using risk assessments or CMP's? Your input will be relevant so ask the school for the current information that they hold as youndont want to miss anything out.

Listen to them when they tell you what they are witnessing. Remember that alot of what they are seeing could be linked to school anxiety that you won't witness at home. If there is a chance that it will happen then you want to know what provision the school will put in place to support your child. It is alot easier when an EHCP is in place.

It would also mean that going forward, you should have the pick of schools and the normal admission criteria would not apply. You could select a school outside of your catchment if it would be more suited to your child.

EHCP's are like gold dust. If you can get one it is great as you are more in control of your child's school experience.

Like others have said, it's standard. The social worker involved in pur EHC Needs Assessment was very kind and gelpful, she got me to apply for DLA; something we are eligible for but I hadn't previously thought of.

It’s completely normal OP and the most
you will get is a phone call conversation with a social worker who may ask if there’s any support you need due to your child’s additional needs (they might follow this up with an email directing you to support groups for autistic families etc). It’s not going to be an assessment of you and your ability to look after your daughter and they’ll have no interest in your historic post natal health.

If it makes you feel better, at the same time we had the social care call for the EHC needs assessment my son was undergoing a social care assessment that ended up placing him on a Child in Need plan because of my exhusband’s abuse of him during contact - I made the SW aware of this on the phone and she said “aw that’s nothing to do with us, if he goes on a CiN plan they’ll note it on the EHCP but that’s not relevant to what I’m doing”

they are literally looking for what your child’s care needs are.

Thank you all so much for the reassurance, the email came in late and sent me into a bit of a panic spiral. I know this is all for the benefit of DD but it's been so hard feeling so under scrutiny by different organisations throughout this process, I just constantly feel as though I've let DD down. She is so much happier at home but after some past experience with home ed I just don't think it would meet her needs.