Care and support

More about the Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database (HAND)

Why have an additional needs database?

As well as the benefit to you of being on our mailing list (optional) and having a card showing your registration, we use the data to provide a picture of the needs of this young population, so that these needs can be effectively planned for.

It allows you to inform us about the effect of the additional needs of your child and the support and services you receive.

We also use the data to provide information to other agencies who plan services for adults e.g. future housing needs. We only give them collective statistics and not details that will identify your child individually.

Who can register?

We need to know about all children aged 0-19 inclusively. This age range was chosen because some young people with additional needs remain at school beyond their 19th birthday, and are therefore using services for children and young people. We need to know about children and young people who have:

Long term and substantial conditions which have a marked impact on daily life

Significantly more personal care and / or supervision

Do I have to register?

No. Registration is optional. Registering will not affect eligibility for services following an assessment. However, by registering you will contribute to providing us with a more complete picture of the requirements of children and young people with additional needs. This information will improve service delivery and planning of new services.

Registering on paper

If registering online isn’t for you, you can print out the paper membership form attached below and return it to us by post, or look out for it at GP practices, schools, health centres and clinics. You can also order it and the accompanying information leaflet (also available below) from us via the “Request a publication from Children, Schools and Families” link to the right of this page. Postal instructions are detailed on the form.