Social care tips working with children with disabilities.

Care jobs working with people with disabilities or additional needs always require a high level of skill and commitment, and that’s evidently the case when those people are children. Despite the difficulties involved, however, these are roles that can be particularly rewarding as they help children to grow up with confidence and take full advantage of the opportunities available to them. Even the most basic care support can make a big difference to a child and can reduce the burden on worried parents. Social care jobs 
Most care jobs that involve working with children will involve disabled children on occasion, so it’s a good idea for any care professionals in child-focused roles to consider the issues raised here. In specific disability jobs, there can be a wide range of different impairments to deal with. Although local authorities try to make separate, age-appropriate provision for children, they sometimes end up accessing adult disability support services, so anyone in that type of role needs to be ready to make adjustments to cater for them. Children with disabilities 
Children with disabilities have some very specific needs that don’t affect adults with similar impairments. For one thing, they’re growing, so disability aids will need to be constantly reviewed and adapted or replaced to take account of this. For another, they need to get an education, and it can be a care worker’s job to help find a suitable point of access for them. 
They can face different health risks and different types of social exclusion than disabled adults. It’s particularly important to make sure they have social opportunities and the chance to play. 
Working with children with additional needs requires a high level of problem solving ability but also the ability to see the person, not just the problems. Every child is different and what works for one may be ineffective for another. Care workers in this position need to be highly adaptable and quick to learn. They may need to rapidly familiarise themselves with obscure medical conditions. They will also need a sense of fun and the ability to connect with children for whom the last thing that’s needed is adults being sad around them. 
Coping with difficulties 
Working with children with disabilities can often mean learning to deal progressively with behavioural issues and a refusal to cooperate. If a child needs medicine quickly or is at risk of self-harm, there isn’t always time to use de-escalation techniques to talk them down. 
Having somebody else - a parent or teacher, for instance available for back-up in these situations is an essential part of providing responsive, intelligent care that focuses on individual needs. Any potentially difficult situations should be documented in care plans and every organisation will expect social care professionals to be have an awareness of what to do in certain situations and deliver it in line with models of best practice. 
In general, problems can be avoided by showing patience and making respect for the child clear. Children with disabilities are used to being patronised and are generally appreciative of being given the opportunity to participate in decision-making about their lives. Things to be aware of 
Perhaps the biggest mistake people working with children with disabilities make is treating them with pity. Many children have never known any other kind of life and are not actually upset by their situations—they just want to know how to engage with life as much as possible.

tags:

skills