Legal framework
The Children Act 1989 requires all Local Authority Social Services departments to establish a register of disabled children within their area. The Children Act 1989 allows the register to be held on a computer, subject to the strict requirements of the General Data Protection Act 2021 which ensure that the Children's Disability Register will be kept strictly confidential with access granted to only key professionals social care.
The register is voluntary, parents and carers don’t have to register children if they don't want to.
What is the purpose of the register?
The register will:
- benefit children & young people parents and cares by ensuring that H&F are aware of the needs and demands of local residents and can develop appropriate services to meet their needs
- benefit children listed on the register can opt to receive a photocard which they can use as evidence to access existing discounts that those providers offer for children with disabilities
- benefit the council in planning and developing services for disabled children
Criteria for the Hammersmith & Fulham register
This register is for children if:
- they have a physical or mental condition which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities
- they are resident in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- are under 18 years of age
How the information is gathered and held
Registration is voluntary. Parents and carers can request children be added to the register via a registration form. Young people can also self-refer.
Professionals from a specialist disability social care worker team such as a social worker or short breaks worker, working with eligible children can also request registration with the consent from the parent or carer.
The register is held on the secure local authority integrated children's system. There is no on-going review of the register, children will remain on the register until age 18, unless a request is made to remove them by their parent or carer.
Registration process
Register a child with disabilities
On receipt of an application or professionals request, the application will be reviewed, and the referrer will be contacted if the panel needs any additional information required.
The application will be considered at the referrals and allocations panel which meets bi-weekly. This panel is made up of senior specialist children’s social care professionals.
The target is for all applications to be reviewed and responded to within 28 days of the receipt of the application. The aim is to review and respond to all applications within 28 days of receiving them.
If you have any queries about the children's register, please contact Stephen Wiltshire Centre on 020 8753 4443 (Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 12:30pm)