Conclusion 7

To ensure that disabled children and their families are aware that they are entitled to an assessment of their needs, the duty on local authorities to provide one should be clear and explicit. We agree with the Law Commission’s recommendation to introduce a single duty to assess the social care needs of disabled children, arising where it appears to the local authority that a child is disabled and may have needs for care and support resulting from their disability. The single statutory guidance for disabled children’s social care should clarify the rights and duties in relation to these assessments. (Recommendation, Paragraph 58)