Cornwall Council’s Support Programme Transforms Lives of Over 1,000 Disabled Children

Cornwall Council’s Supporting Change in Partnership (SCIP) programme has reached a significant milestone, having assisted more than 1,000 disabled children and their families. Developed in 2016 after consultations with parents and carers, SCIP aims to provide support without the need for a social work assessment. This approach focuses on early intervention, empowering families to address and overcome challenges together.

A Growing Team for Greater Impact

Originally launched with just three support workers, SCIP has now expanded to nine, reflecting its growing impact across Cornwall. This expansion has contributed to a notable reduction in social work caseloads, allowing social workers to dedicate their efforts to statutory duties when necessary.

Crin Whelan, the Disabled Children’s Early Help Team Manager, highlighted the success of SCIP, stating, “It’s a huge achievement for the team that we have now helped more than 1,000 children across Cornwall, and I’d like to pay tribute to the dedication and hard work of the support workers and the families they support.”

Real-life Transformations

The positive outcomes resulting from SCIP interventions are evident in the personal stories shared by families:

• Significant Behavioural Improvements: One child, who previously experienced 15 head-banging episodes during the 45-minute car journey to school, now experiences no more than one episode.
• Rejoining the Community: A young person who had not left his bedroom for two years has been shopping for new shoes.
• Educational Success: A child who had not attended any form of education is now thriving in full-time school.
• Workplace Integration: Another child, previously unwilling to attend any placement, has been offered a voluntary work position after a successful work experience arranged by SCIP.

Families have shared their gratitude for the programme, with one parent noting, “Our child is happier, understands her world better and has a voice (she is non-verbal).”

Voices of Support

Kay Henry from Parent Carers Cornwall, an organisation instrumental in SCIP’s formation, praised the programme’s impact: “The co-production of SCIP was based on parents telling us that they sometimes needed help, but they didn’t always need a social work assessment. We hear from families on a weekly basis about how invaluable the work of the SCIP team is and the support they have offered families.”

Feedback from young people further underscores SCIP’s effectiveness. One child said, “I get excited when my worker comes to see me. She listens to me and understands me, and she has got things done in school to make things better for me.”

A Model for Other Authorities

SCIP’s success has not gone unnoticed, with Cornwall Council sharing their approach with other local authorities. The programme is part of the council’s Disabled Children & Therapy Service (DCTS), which consists of multi-disciplinary teams dedicated to supporting disabled children, young people, and their families.

For more information on SCIP, visit the Children and Young People with Disabilities pages on the Cornwall Council website.