A broad definition of "social care" means help and support - both personally and practically - which can enable people to lead as independent a life as possible. Social care covers a wide range of services, which can be provided by universal services - available to all - or by specialist services identified through formal processes, such as an Early Help assessment or Child in Need assessment.
In these pages we've tried to accumulate as much information as possible, both locally and nationally, to help find the right information, advice and support for children, young people and their families. This also includes national charities and voluntary organisations that support families with things like equipment, resources and respite care.
The Local Offer
The Coventry Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer] brings together information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. The SEND Local Offer covers services available to the public across education, health and social care:
- Education: such as nurseries, playgroups, schools and colleges and support services like educational psychologists and SEN services
- Health: children's and adult services including GPs, therapists and hospital services
- Social care: such as short break services and children's and adult disability services.
Coventry City Council Services for children and young people
- All-Age Disability Team [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/care-support/age-disability]
- Early Support Key Worker Service [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/special-educational-needs-disabilities/early-support-children-5-disabilities] (0-5 years) [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/special-educational-needs-disabilities/early-support-children-5-disabilities]
- Short Breaks [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/shortbreaks] (5-17years) [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/shortbreaks]
You can also find further information, advice and support through:
- Family Information Service Directory [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/fis]- contains up-to-date details of events/support for families across the Coventry area
- Community Activities Directory [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/cad] - lists a variety of groups, classes and healthy activities across Coventry
- Coventry's Family Hubs [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs] - support from the 8 Family Hubs based in different areas of the city
- Virtual Family Hub [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/virtualfamilyhub]- provides a wide range of information across a range of topics straight to your computer. If you would prefer to visit someone to discuss the range of support available, you can access support from the 8 Family Hubs based in different areas of the city [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs]'s Family Hubs⯠[https://www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs] [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs]
Relevant Acts and Statutory Guidance
- Children and Families Act [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents]
- Young Person Guide to the Children and Families Act [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-persons-guide-to-the-children-and-families-act-2014]
- Short Breaks [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/short-breaks-for-carers-of-disabled-children]
Care Act 2014
For young people over the age of 18, statutory duties are laid out in the Care Act 2014. The Act seeks to:
- makes provision to reform the law relating to care and support for adults and the law relating to support for carers;
- to make provision about safeguarding adults from abuse or neglect;
- to make provision about care standards;
- to establish and make provision about Health Education England;
- to establish and make provision about the Health Research Authority;
- to make provision about integrating care and support with health services and for connected purposes.
Download a copy of the Care Act 2014. [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/contents/enacted]
Statutory guidance
- Social Care: Guide to the 0-25 SEND Code of Practice - Advice for Social Care Practitioners and Commissioners [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-social-care-professionals]
Other Government guidance
- Short Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children - Departmental advice for Local Authorities [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/short-breaks-for-carers-of-disabled-children]
- Transforming Care Programme [https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/care/] - an NHS-led programme developing plans to make sure that people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges, including those with a mental health condition, receive the right care in the right settings, with the right support.
Organisations and Contacts
Childline
For help and advice at any time for any problem. Visit the Childline website [http://www.childline.org.uk]. The helpline is 0800 1111. Childline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The All-age Disability Team 
The All-age Disability team [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/childrensdisabilityteam] has a specialist social care service for children with disabilities and their families where the disability is having a significant impact on family functioning.
The Children's Disability Register [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/childrensdisabilityregister] is a confidential list of names and basic information about children with disabilities, special or additional needs.
The Children Act 1989 required all local authorities to establish a register of children with a disability in their area. This will then be used to assist service planning to meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Children's names are added to the register at their parent's request, and in return parents can receive information about services available in their area.
Citizens Advice
A network of independent charitiesâ¯offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person [https://citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/], for free. They’re independent and totally impartial. 
- Coventry Citizens Advice [https://www.coventrycitizensadvice.org.uk/]
Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs
View the Code of Practice for special educational needs and Disability. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25]
Contact for families with disabled children
A UK wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children. Visit the 'Contact for families with disabled children' website [http://www.cafamily.org.uk/] for further information.
Child Law Advice 
Visit the Coram Children's Legal Centre website [https://childlawadvice.org.uk/] for a range of information around safeguarding, the role and duties carried out by children's services teams, all the way from early help for families to court proceedings.
Council For Disabled Children 
My Rights - Your Responsibility - [https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/resources/all-resources/filter/inclusion-send/my-rights-your-responsibility-leaflets#:~:text=My%20Rights%2C%20Your%20Responsibility%20is,community%20facilities%20and%20other%20services.]Your child's rights to be included. Printed leaflets are available from the Council for Disabled Children.
Coventry Law Centre 
- Visit the Coventry Law Centre website [http://covlaw.org.uk/]
AccessAble Website 
The AccessAble [http://www.disabledgo.com/] website [https://www.accessable.co.uk/] provides online access guides for venues across the UK and Ireland and was set up in partnership with Marks and Spencer.
Disability grants 
Do you have a Disability? Are you a parent or carer of a Disabled child or adult?
If so, use this website to save time finding Disability Grants [http://www.disability-grants.org/].
Charities and Trusts provide funding towards the high cost of disability equipment, holidays, housing, days out...in fact anything above and beyond the normal costs of everyday living.
Disability and The Equality Act 2010
The Equalities Act 2010 [https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010] aims to protect disabled people and prevent disability discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission have produced Technical Guidance that outlines the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 for schools in relation to the provision of education and access to benefits, facilities or services, both educational and non-educational.
For further information regarding reasonable adjustments including auxiliary aids and services visit the Equality and Human Rights website [http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/what-are-reasonable-adjustments].
Contact for families with disabled children also has information for families around aids, equipment and access to financial support. [https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/social-care/aids-equipment-and-adaptations/]
Family Fund
The Family Fund helps families with severely disabled children to have choices and the opportunity to enjoy an ordinary life. Visit the Family Fund website [http://www.familyfund.org.uk/].