Children with Disabilities Family Help Service

The Disabled Children's teams in Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster and the bi-borough Short Breaks Service are now one service. The service's new name is the Children with Disabilities (CWD) Family Help Service. We support disabled children living in the borough with the most complex needs up to the age of 18 or up to 25 for looked after children.

What support we offer

These the services we offer:

• a lead professional 
• the family navigator – to support to access other services and time limited interventions 
• 0-5 portage - programme of support for parents of children under 5 
• developmental play  
• targeted family interventions 
• inclusion support
• post diagnosis support 
• parenting programmes and support 
• targeted financial intervention  
• carer's assessment 
• sibling support groups  
• preparation for adulthood 
• statutory social work intervention including Child Protection and Looked After Children (LAC)  
• occupational therapy 
• speech and language therapy
• respite 
• short breaks for families of children aged 1 to 17 years with a severe or substantial disability or complex healthcare, who need additional help or support to access leisure activities in the community

Short breaks may include respite care after school and holidays or support to access targeted activities to meet identified need. 

Who can use the service

Children that have one or more of the following conditions:

• severe physical, learning disability or sensory impairment, which is substantial and has a detrimental impact on their ability to do normal daily activities
• profound multiple disability 
• complex physical health needs and life-limiting conditions, which severely impact their functioning

If your child has autism, they must have at least one of these conditions.

How to refer a child

Parent or carer referrals

You can email or call us to refer your child or ask a professional to refer them.

If we're able to offer you support, a family help practitioner or social worker will assess your child. They work out what we can offer you based on your child's needs, those of any siblings and your needs.

Professional referrals

You can refer a child who lives in Kensington and Chelsea. If you're unsure they live in the borough, enter their postcode in Find your local council on GOV.UK.

To make a referral, fill in the Family Services Referral for Child in Need and Child Protection Form.

When you fill in the form:

• have their details to hand as you can't save and it times out after 20 minutes of inactivity
• use a private computer as you're entering sensitive personal information

You can save, print or download a copy of the form after you submit it. We'll send a copy to you by email. If you don't receive the email, check your junk mail folder.

Get in in touch if you have questions, concerns about a child or need help filling in the form.

Contact us

• Email socialservices@rbkc.gov.uk
• Call 020 7361 3013, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday 

For out of hours emergencies, call 020 7373 2227.

Other support options

If your child doesn't qualify for this service, there are other services you can access.We list these on our Family Information Hub.

You can also join the Kensington and Chelsea parent forum: Full of Life.