Request a social-care assessment (s.17 Children Act 1989)
Use this letter to ask the Local Authority's children's social care team (sometimes called the Disabled Children's Team) to carry out a Children Act 1989 s.17 assessment. The findings underpin Section D (social-care needs) and Section H1/H2 (social-care provision) of the EHC plan, both of which are frequently left blank where no s.17 assessment has been done.
What this letter is for
- Use it to ask children's social care to assess your child's needs, separate from the education assessment.
- The findings can feed into the social care parts of an EHC plan, so ask for it as early as you can.
- The LA should tell you whether it will assess. Ask in writing so there is a record.
- If you are refused, you can ask for the reasons and make a complaint.
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This template references: Children Act 1989, s.17, Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, s.2, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018, SEND Code of Practice 2015, Chapter 10. Always check that legislation is current before relying on it.
Independent template. See IPSEA's authoritative Disabled children's social care: requesting a Children Act 1989 assessment (see IPSEA disabled-children's-social-care guidance) for comparison. Always check that legislation is current before relying on it.