Should I agree to a social care assessment for my daughter?

[BagsyAlone]

15 years old DD has a chronic illness; it interferes with school attendance but only occasionally. She can’t participate in active trips so she stays at home and school send her work to do.

I’ve asked for a needs assessment and last night I received the news that DD will be assessed.

I’ve been asked if I want a social care assessment but I don’t know what this entails and the thought of social services involvement makes me nervous.

What could they realistically offer us for an assessment?

DD can’t travel independently. She does attend an art club but often has to leave early or miss it as she cannot manage the whole session. She misses out socially very often because of her symptoms but things are also complicated by other factors associated with her neurodivergence.

Parents and grandparents facilitate her whole life, but this is our normal.

Should I agree to social care assessment or is it not necessary?

Yes, I would agree.

This booklet from Contact explains more about the role of children’s services for disabled DC.

@inthequietofdawn The leaflet was helpful thank you. I’m still not sure what to expect but I will agree. DD is fiercely stubborn so I’m not sure she will accept any help, but I suppose we don’t know if she has any social care needs if they’ve never been assessed.

Her illness is likely to prevent or limit employment in the future too, so it is worth doing.