Short Breaks for Disabled Children and Young People
What are Short Breaks?
Short breaks provide invaluable support for disabled children, young people and their families. It provides disabled children and young people with the opportunity to experience new relationships, environments and positive activities which provides them with valuable social skills and independence. Families are able to take time out to recharge their batteries or provide additional support so that the whole family can enjoy activities together.
There are many forms that short breaks can take, including daytime, evening, weekend and overnight activities. They can take place in the child's own home, a family based setting, a residential, educational or community setting, or in their local environment. A short break can last from just a few hours to a few days, or longer. The activities can include sporting activities, play schemes, pre-school groups, youth clubs, residential homes, nurseries, the arts or dance.
Short breaks can also include activities where someone other than a parent or carer accompanies a disabled young person for informal leisure activities, for example to go swimming; to go to the cinema; to watch a football match; to have a sleep-over with a friend, or to go shopping in town.
What are the different types of breaks ?
• Residential short break unit providing overnight stays in
an Ofsted registered children's home
• Family based daycare and overnight services
• Family Link carers
• Overnight sitting service
• Daycare and sessional services
• Sitting or sessional short break services
• Befriending scheme
• Universal services, such as youth clubs
• Direct Payments used to purchase your own care
package or contract carers
How can I request a Short Break?
Parents of disabled children have a legal right to have their child's needs assessed by Social Services on request. You can request an assessment by speaking directly to the Disabled Children's Team (DCT) on 01225 825307. They will decide whether you or your child are eligible for services using a set of eligibility criteria.
If you prefer, you can also be referred for an assessment by a
GP, Social Worker, School Nurse or Health Visitor.
Parent Carers Aiming High
Parent Carers Aiming High (PCAH) is a new, independent group led by local parents which provides an opportunity for parent carers to work together to have their voices heard and influence changes in local services. PCAH is for parent carers to meet other parents caring for children with any kind of disability. This group enables the enthusiasm and commitment of parents with disabled children to make real improvements to services which will directly affect them and their children.
Parents with disabled children are experts in their child's needs and can collectively transform services for all children and families.
To find out more about PCAH, please contact Helen King a The Care Network, 1 Riverside Cottages, Radstock, Bath BA3 3PS. Tel: 01761 431388
Email: Joanne.Grobler@thecarenetwork.co.uk
Where can I get further information?
For more information about short breaks, activities, and services available to disabled children and young people in Bath & North East Somerset, contact the Family Information Service: Telephone: 0800 073 1214
Email: fis@bathnes.gov.uk Text service: 07980 998906
You can also find out more about local activities for disabled children and young people by visiting 1 Big Database at http://www.1bigdatabase.org.uk/
