Short breaks and support

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Aiming High for Disabled Children is a major Government programme to transform services for disabled children and their families to ensure they get the help and support they need. The programme focuses on developing short breaks, accessible childcare, parent participation, and support for young people as they develop into adults.

Short breaks

A major strand of the Aiming High programme is the development of a whole range of short break provision.

What is a short break?

A 'short break' gives children or young people with a disability opportunities to have fun doing things they enjoy, spending quality time with other young people in new environments. It also means that parents can have a regular planned break from the responsibilities of caring for their children.

This may be for a few hours during the day, evening, overnight or for the whole weekend.

A short break service cannot be provided to allow the main carer to go to work.

What short break services are available?

We aim to provide a range of services to suit the needs of all families.

With additional support, your child may be able to benefit from a variety of everyday activities:

• Sport, leisure and youth provision
• After school clubs and other extended school services
• Activities at children's centres
• Art, drama and music clubs
• Mainstream holiday playschemes eg at a leisure centre

We can put in place the additional support required by your child.

This might be:

• An extra member of staff or a support worker to give one to one care
• Training to help staff care for your child and help him or her participate in activities
• Support and training when children have complex health needs
• Specialist equipment

We also have a range of specialist services for children with additional needs:

• After school clubs
• Saturday clubs
• After school clubs
• Specialist holiday playschemes
• Inclusion Works support for leisure and holiday activities
• A trained support worker to support your child/ young person with community or home-based activities
• Over-night or day-care in a foster family home
• Overnight stays in a specialist residential unit

Priority groups

Aiming High for Disabled Children identified five key groups of children that they consider local authorities should ensure receive short break services that are age appropriate and fit for purpose:

• Children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, who are likely to have other impairments, such as severe learning disabilities or have behaviour which is challenging. However, not all children on the Autistic Spectrum will require specialist additional short break services.
• Children and young people with complex health needs, including those with disabilities and life limiting conditions who have reached the palliative care stage of their life, as well as other children and young people with complex health needs and/or other physical, cognitive or sensory impairments.
• Children and young people aged 11+ with moving and handling needs that will require equipment and adaptations. These children are likely to have physical impairments, and many of them will also have cognitive impairments and/or sensory impairments.
• Children and young people where challenging behaviour is associated with other impairments (eg severe learning disability). Children in this group will display behaviour which challenges services or behaviour which causes injury to themselves or others.
• Severely disabled young people aged 14+, who will require age-appropriate services.

Aiming High Short Breaks Advisory Service

This has been set up and produces quarterly newsletters giving parents detailed information on what short breaks are available and where and how they can access them. The service is also supporting small voluntary and community organisations to form constituted groups and enabling them to access funding from other sources to develop their sustainability.

Inclusion Works Service

(formerly Plymouth Inclusion Childcare Support Service)

Grant money has meant that Inclusion Works has increased the number of children supported to access holiday activity schemes.

Small grants scheme

During 2009/2010 12 small community based organisations have received grants from AHDC funds in order to develop short break opportunities for disabled children and young people. Grants have been made to a wide range of organisations focussing on parent lead groups.

Short loan equipment scheme

This scheme, run by the Children’s Disability Occupational Therapy Team, provides a range of equipment (including some specialist play equipment) for providers and families to borrow in order to be able to access inclusive and positive opportunities.