Family Based Short Break - support service to families of disabled children

Aim of the service:

The Family Based Short Breaks Scheme aims to provide regular short breaks for children with disabilities with approved Carers in the Carer’s family home - including day care and overnight stays.

Short Break Carers undergo a detailed Form F assessment, which is in line with the Fostering Service (England) Regulations 2011.  This assessment is used to assess the suitability of the applicants.  Once the assessment and relevant checks have been completed, the applicants are presented to the Fostering Panel, where the decision regarding approval is made.

It should be noted that although the recruitment process is stringent, Short Break Carers carry out their role on a voluntary basis, receiving an allowance for expenses (unlike paid Foster Carers). Most Carers have other employment and the emphasis is on short breaks, with children matched to their level of skills and experience.

Carers usually provide short break care in their own home and undertake activities with the child within the local community.

Criteria: Who is this service best placed to support?

• Children with a disability aged under 18 who live in the Wokingham Borough, where the need for a service from the scheme has been identified via a Short Break and Early Help Assessment (from the Short Break and Early Help Team) or a Child and Family Assessment (from a Social Worker).
• Children (and their families) who would benefit from a short break in a family environment, as opposed to a club/group based activity or support from a personal assistant or residential setting.

Referral Process

• For an overnight service, children will have been assessed by a Social Worker in the Children with Disabilities Team (CWDT) as requiring this support.
• For day care, children will have been assessed by a Short Break and Early Help Co-ordinator or a Social Worker in the CWDT as requiring this support.
• Requests for service are considered at the disability-specific Children with Additional Needs Multi-Agency Panel (CANMAP) which is held monthly.

If agreed in principle at CANMAP, a home visit will be undertaken to establish whether or not the service is appropriate in meeting the child’s needs. It may be necessary to add the child to the waiting list if a suitable space is currently not available.