Introduction

In Wales, social care has key pieces of legislation that influence a lot of what could be available for young people and their families. The Welsh government has a page on their website here which highlights these. The Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 is a cornerstone to the way services operate across Wales. Easy read version of the act can be found here, this helps provide young people a clearer understanding of the act and what they are entitled to.

Knowing when to ask for help

We all need support at some point, knowing when to ask is fundamental to supporting the ones we love and ourselves. It is okay to ask for support, contact our transition team to have a chat about what might help.

If you feel you have a need for care and support as someone with a learning disability or a carer, you can ask for an assessment.  Learning Disability Wales have an easy read document explaining this process here .

It is important to take the time to consider what wellbeing is and what is means to you. The Welsh government created a wellbeing statement which highlights the 9 areas of wellbeing. This is helpful to understand where needs might arise and whether you need support.

Adults version of the statement: here.

Young persons version of the statement: here.

 Direct payments

As a result of an assessed need for care and support, you may have the option to choose to employ a personal assistant to support you. This could be a part-time teaching assistant or a trusted adult friend. Direct payments don’t just need to be used for 1 to 1 support, they could be used towards buying physical things such as bicycles or a taxi service. Importantly, if you use direct payments to employ someone to work as a personal assistant for you or young person, you will be responsible to find that personal assistant.

 Direct payments should be used to address the need that they were awarded to support. North Wales Together have made some fantastic resources which can be found here, please scroll down.

How to ask for support

In part 3 of the Social Services and Wellbeing act 2014, it explains the different types of assessments that families can ask for. Carers Wales have made an easy read explanation specific to assessment here.

If you decide to request an assessment, contact the appropriate team at your local authority. Autism Uk have an informative page about the process and a template families can use to request an assessment. Find out more here. Contacting the services through email helps keep track of the conversations you have.

Contact details are here:

Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey

As mentioned on the Autism Uk Website and in the wellbeing act, everyone should be entitled to an assessment, this does not mean everyone is immediately entitled to support.

Once you have sent off the request, the local authority should get back to you to arrange an assessment, or they could refuse the assessment – the local authority must record any refusal of an offer of an assessment of need.

Assessment elements are in annex 1 in part 3 code of practice of the Social Services and Wellbeing act 2014 here. The assessment conclusion can be one of the following:

• there are no needs to be met;

• a more comprehensive assessment is required, which may include more specialist assessments;

• needs can be met through the provision of information, advice or assistance;

• needs can be met through the provision of preventative services; needs can be met, wholly or in part, by the individual themselves (with or without the assistance of others);

• other matters can contribute to the achievement of the personal outcomes, or otherwise meet the needs;

• needs can only be met through a care and support plan, or a support plan.