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Devon’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Local Offer

The social care support available


There are four levels of support available for disabled children and their families. They are:

  • universal services that all families can access
  • early help
  • targeted support provided by the council which may include support from our Disabled Children’s Service
  • specialist support from our social work teams

Universal services

Universal services are those services that anyone can use. They are open to everyone across Devon, regardless of whether they are disabled or not.

Most families will get the support they need by accessing universal services. Any professional who knows your family, for example, a health visitor, teacher, school nurse, or GP can help you explore the universal services available in your local area.

You can also search online:

These services can help families where your child:

  • has additional care needs that are being met by you and your family
  • requires support to broaden their experiences or prevent a build-up of stress in your family or both
  • has a sensory impairment or learning disability that does not impact significantly on their care need
  • has emotional or behavioural difficulties or both which are not linked to a chronic and enduring disability

Examples of universal services include:

  • midwifery
  • primary care services (including GPs)
  • health visitors
  • school nurses
  • dental practices
  • early years settings
  • schools
  • voluntary sector services
  • faith groups
  • library and information services
  • further education
  • benefits agencies

You can find more information on our SEND Local Offer pages about:

Targeted support

For more information about available events and activities, please see our list of inclusive and short break activities. Please also refer to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme pages for provision available during the school holidays.

Families with a disabled child may require additional support from social care services in addition to universal services. Our children’s services provide a range of services and support which are accessible to disabled children and their families. This includes:

Early help services which can be accessed through our partners such as school and other community services or organisation. Assessment and planning through early help is an important part of supporting children and young people with SEND. Find out more about early help in Devon.

Early help support includes assessment and planning which supports us to know how to best support you. 

Targeted early help services is accessible to families who has accessed early help and need additional support. To find out more about targeted services in Devon please talk to your lead practitioner or see targeted early help in Devon.

Our targeted support for disabled children is provided in addition to, or in partnership with, early help. The type of support families could receive depends on the individual needs of your child and family and may include:

  • consultation and advice
  • advice and practical help
  • additional targeted early help
  • assessment
  • planning

Social work support

Our Children’s Service’s provides support in addition early help. The type of support families could receive depends on the individual needs of your child and family. 

We identify needs through an assessment. This just means that we talk to you to gather information about your child and family to make sure you get the right help, at the right time and in the right place.

Find out more about our Levels of Need.

Children and young people who require this level of  support will, if this is assessed as necessary, have an allocated social worker who will coordinate a multi-agency support plan.

Your child’s plan could also involve some signposting or referring to relevant support services for your family. This may include:

  • SEND support
  • Devon Early Years Complex Needs Service
  • childminding (including special needs childminders)
  • therapeutic physiotherapy
  • occupational therapy
  • ROVIC service
  • speech and language input and associated aids
  • community nursing
  • voluntary sector provision as part of a care package
  • early help
  • signposting to charity support
  • Parent Carer Forum Devon

For more information about available events and activities, please see our list of inclusive and short break activities. Please also refer to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme pages for provision available during the school holidays.


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