The Disabled Children's INDEX RCT
What is an Index?
The Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to keep a register of disabled children and young people, which we prefer to call an Index.
The Index will tell us how many disabled children and young people there are within Rhondda Cynon Taf and what type of disability they have.
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Registration Criteria
The Index is open to any child up to their 19th birthday, who is ordinarily resident in Rhondda Cynon Taf and who has a long term and substantial disability (Disability Discrimination Act 1995). Therefore, providing your child has a long term and substantial disability, they can be registered on the Index, even if they are not receiving a service.
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Why have an Index?
The Index will help us to do 3 things:
1. Plan and develop future services
2. Provide parents, carers, children and young people with information; for example, through the Smalltalk newsletter
3. Include you in consultation about services
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Who will have access to the Index?
The Index will be held by Children's Services in the Community and Children's Services Group. Relevant professionals in Education and Health will also have access to the Index. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence and comply with the Data Protection Act.
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Your Rights
Registration is not compulsory and children / young people cannot be included in the Index without written consent.
If you decide to be included in the Index this will not affect the services you may receive. The Index is not linked to any other register and has no connection to the child protection register.
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How to Register your child
To request a registration form, please see the contact details of your Disabled Children's Index Coordinator in the contact details section. Alternatively, you can download a registration form by clicking on the picture below:
Click here to download a registration form for the Rhondda Cynon Taf Disabled Children's Index
(You can print this registration form, fill it in and return it to the address quoted on the form)