Children With Disabilities (CWD) team

This page introduces the Children with Disabilities (CWD) Team, explaining how they support families by coordinating care and services for children and young people with complex needs or disabilities.

Our team work with children and young people aged 0 to 18 years who have:

  • severe and complex disabilities
  • life limiting conditions that affect their learning and or physical development and have a major impact on their quality of life who require support over and above what is available to everyone through universal services

The CWD service

We work with a range of children and young people, including those with:

  • severe physical disabilities that significantly impact on their wellbeing
  • severe learning disabilities
  • multiple or severe disabilities
  • severe sensory impairment in conjunction with a severe learning disability
  • complex health needs

The above list is not exhaustive.  Our eligibility Criteria needs to be fully developed and will be added to the SEND Local Offer in due course.

Working in partnership

We work in partnership with other service providers including:

  • health
  • education (schools and education professionals)
  • voluntary groups

Everyone works together to agree a package of support which meets the child or young person’s assessed needs.

The team are aware that the needs of a disabled child and their family may change from time to time. There will be times when more support is needed. Therefore, all care plans and packages of support are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the level of provision is right and that the child is making positive progress.

How to access services

You can access the Children with Disabilities Service by calling the Multi Agency Hub on: 0300 373 2724  

A social worker will visit you to complete the assessment. The assessment considers:

  • your child's views
  • your views
  • the developmental needs of your child
  • your capacity to meet those needs
  • family and environment factors
  • your ability to support your child any support networks you have

The social worker will talk to you about any services available to help your child.

The assessment can take up to a maximum of 45 working days in exceptional circumstances.

If your child is not eligible, the team will give you advice and information on other services that may be available such as short breaks.

Useful information

Apply for a Disabled Person's Bus Pass

Apply for or Renew a Blue Badge

SEND Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC) – Parent Carer Forum

Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (IPSEA)

Council for Disabled Children

Contact - For families with disabled children.

Family Fund - The UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income.

Carers support:

SEND Local Offer surveys

SEND Local Offer Survey for Parents, Carers and Professionals
SEND Local Offer Survey for Children and Young People