Short Break Support Packages

Short Break Support packages support families in their everyday lives, and provide disabled children with the opportunities and experiences available to non disabled children. There are three levels of support package available:

  • Non assessed support package (Basic Offer)
  • Assessed support package (Additional Needs)
  • Complex Needs support package

Basic Offer (Non Assessed Support Packages)

The basic offer is intended to provide easy access to support for children with lower to medium level needs and is available directly by application to the St Quintin Centre and includes all Services normally available from St Quintin.

Additional Needs (Assessed Support Packages)

Assessed Support packages are intended for those children with medium to high level needs and are available following an assessment by St Quintin Staff or by the CWD Social Work Team and appropriate management sign off. The additional Services available are:

  • Holiday care/play
  • Transport
  • Homecare and home sitting (up to 8 hours)
  • Direct Payments (up to 8 hours)
  • After school Care
  • Regular Saturday care
  • Shared care

Complex Needs (Panel approved Support Packages)

Complex Needs Support packages are intended for those children with very high level needs and are available following an assessment by the CWD Social Work Team and agreement from the Complex Needs Panel. The additional Services available are:

  • 3+ days a week 1:1 supported holiday care
  • Overnight care (The Haven, School Based)
  • Residential Care (fostering & special residential)
  • Additional support to children in boarding school placements
  • More than 8 hours Homecare or direct payments

Eligibility

Children and Young People aged 0 to 18 with a disability who are substantially affected in their everyday living by one or more of the following:

  • Global developmental delay
  • Physical impairment
  • A profound sensory impairment
  • A significantly disabling chronic ill health condition
  • Severe communication or language disorder
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder with communication disorder and developmental delay
  • Learning disability
  • A serious life limiting or terminal illness

Short breaks for children with the following conditions need to be applied for though the Locality Social Work Teams:

  • High functioning Autism and Aspergers
  • Emotional and behavioural difficulties that are not due to one of the areas listed above (this includes ADHD)
  • Mental health conditions
  • Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (learning difficulties as opposed to learning disabilities)
  • Speech and language delays

Under 5s

It is expected that many disabled under 5s will access mainstream services including Children’s Centres. Only those with the higher level needs or where there are exceptional circumstances will need to be offered short breaks beyond the basic offer and this will be subject to an assessment.

Referral

Referrals for non assessed support packages can be made to St Quintin Centre.

Referrals for assessed support packages need to be made to either the St Quintin Centre or the Children with Disabilities Team.

Referrals for complex needs support packages need to be made to the Children with Disabilities Team.