Short Breaks Statement
Who can access a short break?
Children and young people with disabilities (aged 0-19) are
eligible for a short break if they have a physical and/or learning
disability and/or an associated life-limiting condition which has a
substantial and long term effect on their ability to access
facilities and activities.
What is our Local Offer?
There are three categories of services provided in Rochdale:
Universal Services – available to all children,
young people and their carers and include parks, leisure centres,
play provision etc and information is available from the Family
Information Service tel. 01706 719900 email. family.info@rochdale.gov.uk.
Services for those who require a little
support – these can be accessed without the need for an
assessment by contacting the service provider directly. You will
find a comprehensive list in the Short
Break self referral matrix (20kb pdf).
Services for children and young people who require a lot
of support – specialist services that can only be accessed
by contacting the Children with Disabilities Social Work Team who
may undertake an assessment of need to ascertain the correct level
of support required by a disabled child/young person and their
family. Details of the type of break that may be offered are listed
here.
In order to access more specialised short break support,
children with very complex needs may require an assessment of need
to be undertaken by the Children with Disabilities Social Work
Team. To meet the eligibility criteria for an assessment the
child/young person must be:
- Resident in Rochdale
- Have a statement of educational needs or
- Receive disability living allowance (DLA) or
- Diagnosed with a disability as set out in the Equality Act
(2010).
On completion of the assessment, recommendations for short break
support will be presented to a multi-disciplinary Resource Panel
made up of representatives from Social Care, Health, Education and
the Parents’ Forum. The panel will either approve or make
alternative suggestions which will support the disabled child and
their family.
The following short break provision can only be
accessed following an assessment of need:
- Short break in a residential unit that employs appropriately
trained and experienced staff and is able to provide overnight care
with waking night staff
- Outreach service which works with children and families
experiencing difficulties and can offer a speedy response to a
family in crisis
- Carer’s service to assist families at home with the personal
care of the child/young person
- Family-based overnight short breaks with approved foster
carers
- Direct Payments. This is a sum of money allocated to the family
which allows them to pay for a service of their choice or employ a
personal assistant to support their child
These specialist services are in addition to those that can be
accessed by self-referral. Please read our self referral matrix for
further information.
Short
Break self referral matrix (20kb pdf).
Ongoing consultation and feedback
Listening to the views of children and families is essential to
help us to ensure that short break provisions meet their needs. We
encourage families to contact the Children with Disabilities
Service on 01706 925900 to share their views, suggestions or
concerns about short breaks. Staff also regularly gain the views of
families when completing their assessments, drawing up short break
plans and conducting reviews. We also consult with carers at drop
in sessions, Parents Forums and information events across the
Borough. All our service providers are also required to supply
regular data and evidence of outcomes of their short break
services.
In partnership with our Parents’ Forum and the Children with
Disabilities Partnership Board, our Short Breaks Statement is
regularly reviewed to make sure that it is an accurate reflection
of the choices and views of children and families.
A formal and detailed review of this statement will take place
no later than 31st January 2012 and this will inform our
commissioning process for the next financial year.
In summary
We want our children and young people with a disability to have
access to play, leisure and social opportunities, such as sports
facilities, play areas, parks, youth clubs, leisure complexes and
community facilities, in the same way as their peers who do not
have a disability.
Across the borough we offer a wide and varied range of services
that support disabled children to enjoy such activities and want
our short break provision to give disabled children and young
people the opportunity to relax and have fun as well as providing
their family with a break.
If you would like any further information please contact us
using the details on the right.