Blaenau Gwent Disability Index

The Children’s Act 1989 requires each Local Authority to collect information about children and young people with additional needs or a disability. The Index brings together the registers held by Education and Social Services to plan for the future for children with any disability, additional needs and/ or life altering health condition.

What is the Index?

The Index is a confidential, secure computer database which holds all the necessary information, about children and young people aged 0-19 with any disability, additional needs and/or life-altering health condition. To help with the work in Blaenau Gwent, Education and Social Services have joined together to consolidate all information held on children, young people and their disabilities.

What the Index is not

If a parent/carer decides to place their child’s name on the index, it does not qualify them for services other than information, advice and sign-posting.

Why have an Index?

The Index will enable us jointly to:

Collect and supply information for planning for the future years and the immediate future – from Schools and Transport to Holiday Schemes and Respite Care. This makes sure children and their families are included in planning services.
Provide statistical information to the Government.
Ask children, young people and their families what they want. Without consulting parents, carers and children about what questions they would like answered the Index could not work.
Circulate relevant information, ideas and news via newsletters.
Ensure children and their families know what is going on in Blaenau Gwent and how to reach and obtain these services.

How does the Index work?

Enrolment is voluntary and all personal information on the Index is confidential.
Questionnaires will be completed by parents. Assistance can be given by a professional who knows the child well.
All parents and families will be given a copy of their information held on the Index, to use as they wish.
Information held on the Index will be updated every 2 years by contacting the family. Therefore as the child/young person matures, vital changes will not be missed.
Families will receive regular newsletters of news, ideas and information.

How do we join the Index?

Contact the Disability Index Co-ordinator who can help with all enquiries and questions you may have, from obtaining a questionnaire and joining the Index to suggesting articles for the newsletter. We’d love to hear from you all!

SNAP Cymru will support parents/carers in completing the questionnaire.
Tel: (01633) 246897
Email: chris.bradley@snapcymru.org

Further Information
Disability Index Co-ordinator, Heart of the Valley Children’s Centre, Old Blaina Infant School, High Street, Blaina, Blaenau Gwent, NP13 3BN
Tel: (01495) 354776

Child Disability Newsletter - Click here to access