Aiming High for Disabled Children (Short Breaks)

Aiming High for Disabled Children is a Government
initiative designed to improve the lives of disabled children
and their families. The programme aims to deliver:

• Better access to services and empowerment of
  families by giving them greater choice and control
• Responsive services and timely support
• Improved quality and capacity of services

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 at
The Care Network, 1 Riverside Cottages, Radstock, Bath BA3
3PS. Tel: 01761 431388
Email: helen.king@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/