Community Access Service

What the service does
Who provides the service
How to access the service
Location
Additional info

What the service does

To facilitate children and young people with a disability to enable them to access opportunities for social, leisure and personal development either with their peers or individually in the local community as it is recognised that some children will prefer more solitary community based activities. The team aims to engage in a time limited manner to develop and maintain links with local community organisations who can offer ongoing support for young people with a disability e.g. youth workers, volunteers, groups. The team also aims to promote and develop new services within the community. This includes the provision of Summer schemes and the Supported Transition Entry Programme (STEP)

Who provides the service

The service is provided by Community Access Officers and Community Access Support Workers.

How to access the service

Referrals are accepted from social workers based in the three Children’s Disability Teams within the Southern Trust. Prior to a referral being made there should be a discussion between the social worker and community access staff to initially screen the referral with consideration given to the availability of other social outlets for the young person aged 12 – 17 years.

Appropriate Referrals

Young people referred to the team should be capable of and willing to actively engage safely within the programme, service or activity provided by community services. Priority should be given to those children who are socially isolated and are not receiving other services with a social inclusion element, in addition to those on the child protection register or subject to a court order or proceedings. Where it is deemed that a high level of risk exists these referrals are not appropriate as the child should be able to engage safely within the activity.

Action following acceptance of referral

On receipt of a new referral an acknowledgement letter will be sent within 10 days to the parent or carer to inform them that they have been placed on a waiting list and the community access officer will be contacting them as soon as possible to arrange an initial home visit.

An assessment will be undertaken to identify the young person’s wants, their interests and hobbies in an attempt to match them to a service that will best meet their needs.

The team will provide advice and support to community organisations in addition to introducing, facilitating and monitoring the young person at the community option.

Monitoring and review will continue until the young person has settled and can attend on their own or access services organised and monitored by their carers.

Regular reviews will take place to ensure the young person’s needs are being met with community access which may include case closure as the service is designed to be time limited and to promote empowerment, independence and inclusion. This will not affect the young person’s continued attendance/engagement with the community activity.

Where is the service based

The Community Access service have offices within each of the three Children with Disabilities Teams, each located in St Lukes Hospital Site, Armagh; Dromalane House, Newry and Moylinn House, Craigavon.

Feedback from families

“The summer can be long and unstructured; it was great for her to have some routine”.

“Staff have been great and welcoming, giving clear directions of all activities and schedules.”

Additional info

ABC Summer Scheme

The Armagh and Dungannon Community Access team facilitated a week long Summer Scheme in August in partnership with ABC Council and Disability Sport NI. This included a visit to Armagh Planetarium, ‘All out’ trekking at Gosford Park and a visit from ‘Talking Reptiles’.

Newry & Mourne Summer Scheme

Following the success of last year’s summer scheme partnership between the Children with Disabilities Team Newry and the Education Authority Youth Service (EA) a similar plan was followed this year. EA and Community Access staff met to discuss how to tailor a programme that was fun, informative and engaging for all young people reflecting their wishes and needs. The young people had the opportunity to take part in music therapy, a sports day, a trip to Armagh Planetarium and the Armagh Sensory Experience.