What does the service do?
The Children and Young Adults with Disabilities Service (CYADS) supports families with children and young adults aged up to 25. The team helps those who have moderate or severe disabilities, or complex health needs.
The service has a friendly team of social workers and occupational therapists (OT). An OT is a therapist who helps people learn how to do everyday tasks comfortably and safely.
If your child can get help, the team will look closely at what they need. They will build a care package together with you, your child, and other professionals.
This support is for children and young people who need extra care that normal local services cannot offer. This extra care can include:
- Help with personal care, such as washing or dressing
- Joining in with local group activities and clubs
- Play schemes and short breaks away from home
- Direct payments, which is money given to you to pay for your child's care yourself
If your child cannot get help through CYADS, we will guide you to other useful services. This may include:
- Special support through the Early Help team
- Short breaks through the local Core Offer
- A social work check through the First Response Team in Harrow
- Directions to local community groups and activity centres.
The CYADS team for young adults aged 18 to 25 also helps with transition planning. This means helping young people with a learning disability get ready for adulthood. You can read more on our preparing for adulthood page.
Who can use this service?
To get help from CYADS, a child or young person must:
- Live in the London Borough of Harrow
- Be aged between 0 and 25 years old
- Need extra support from another person or special equipment for day to day care
This includes children who need help with:
- Washing, dressing, or nighttime care
- Eating meals
- Joining in with fun activities and sports
It also includes children who have:
- A severe physical disability or a major loss of sight or hearing
- Complex health needs that cause long term illness
- A profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD), which means needing full support with daily life
- Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) alongside one of the needs listed above
- A place at a special school alongside one of the needs listed above.
How to refer a child
Parents and carers can contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) team in the London Borough of Harrow to ask for support:
- Office hours: Call 020 8901 2690 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Outside office hours: Call the emergency duty team on 020 8424 0999
Professionals
Teachers, doctors, and health staff can fill in the online request form below.
What happens next?
When we look at what your child needs, we will check:
- How the disability affects their daily life, including personal care and safety
- How the disability affects your family life
- What your child is good at, along with the hopes of your family
- Other caring jobs you have as a parent
- Support you get from extended family and local friends
- Disability benefits your family receives
- Details from other staff who know your child, such as doctors or teachers
When we plan your care, you can choose care managed by the London Borough of Harrow or use direct payments.
We can also check what support you need as a carer. We can carry out a special parent carer assessment with you to make sure you get the help you deserve.