Definition
A social worker is a qualified professional, registered with Social Work England, who safeguards children and assesses family need under the Children Act 1989. Disabled children's social care teams contribute the social care advice ("care" advice) for EHC needs assessments and arrange social care provision specified in Section H of an EHCP.
In context for parents
Key checkpoints
- A social worker is registered with Social Work England and safeguards children under the Children Act 1989.
- Disabled Children's Teams (CWD) work under section 17 Children Act 1989 plus the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
- LA must seek social care advice in an EHC needs assessment (SEND Regulations 2014, regulation 6(1)(e)).
- The Care Act 2014 takes over at the child's 18th birthday; section 58 transition assessment should begin from age 14.
- Many LAs miss the section 58 transition duty entirely.
Social workers in the UK qualify with a recognised social work degree (three-year undergraduate or two-year postgraduate) and register with Social Work England. To use the protected title "social worker" a practitioner must be registered.
In SEND, the relevant teams are usually the Disabled Children's Team (sometimes called Children with Disabilities, CWD) or the Specialist Family Team. Their assessments operate under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (child in need) and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (which gives disabled children specific entitlements to short breaks, respite, and equipment).
For an EHC needs assessment, the LA must seek social care advice (typically from the disabled children's team) under regulation 6(1)(e) of the SEND Regulations 2014. The advice should describe the child's care needs and any social care provision being arranged or recommended. This forms the basis of Section D (care needs) and Section H (care provision) of the EHCP.
Common social care provision in EHCPs:
- Short breaks (sometimes via direct payment under the personal budget route).
- Family support hours.
- Holiday provision.
- Equipment and adaptations.
- Help with transport, particularly for older children and post-18 transition.
The Care Act 2014 takes over from the Children Act 1989 at the child's 18th birthday. The transition assessment (Care Act 2014, s.58–66) should begin from age 14 for a young person likely to need adult social care. Many LAs miss the s.58 duty entirely; transition planning for adulthood is one of the most frequent SEND failures.
Related terms
The terms parents most often see alongside Social Worker.
Early Help
Local authority-coordinated, multi-agency support for families before issues escalate to statutory social care. Often the route into family support workers and parenting programmes.
EHC Needs Assessment(EHCNA)
The local authority's statutory process for gathering advice from professionals to decide whether a child needs an EHCP. The LA has 20 weeks from request to issuing a final plan.
Local Authority(LA)
The council responsible for arranging and funding the special educational provision in a child's EHCP. The LA is the legal duty-holder, not the school.
Where parents ask about this
Parents usually find this page when the disabled children's team has declined to assess, when Section D / H of an EHCP is thin, or before the move from children's to adult social care at 18. Searches include "Children Act section 17 assessment SEND", "Section D EHCP social care", and "transition to adult social care SEND". A Beaakon advocate can request a Children Act assessment, challenge under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, and build the section 58 Care Act 2014 transition assessment for young people approaching adulthood.
References
The primary legislation, statutory guidance, research, and clinical tools this page draws on.