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↵Short breaks provide disabled children and young people with fun, enjoyment and a chance to be with friends while their parents and carers get a break from caring. They come in many different forms, ranging from an overnight stay in a residential centre or a carer’s home to attending a youth club, leisure centre or getting involved in a sports activity.
Short Breaks in Kingston and Richmond
Aiming High Short Breaks
All children and young people who meet the following eligibility criteria can apply for short breaks under the Aiming High scheme:
- child or young person who has a diagnosed disability
- The child or young person is aged between 0 -18th birthday
- The child or young person lives in the Royal Borough of Kingston or the London Borough of Richmond
Short Breaks for children and young people with more complex needs
Children with more complex needs can take part in the Aiming High Short Break offer described above however they can also access specialist sessions only for children and young people with more complex needs. These can include both day and overnight provision. These are called "Assessed Need Short Breaks". Children and families who meet the eligibility criteria to receive services from the Social Care Disabled Children’s Team or the Family Support Team (ISCD - Integrated Service for Children with Disabilities), will be able to access these short breaks.
The Short Break offer in Kingston and Richmond (currently subject to COVID restrictions)
Aiming High - for all children and young people with disabilities |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheme | Age | Offered to children and young people from | When | Who is it for? |
| Activity Fund | 0 to 18th birthday | Kingston and Richmond | Annual funding for families towards activities of the child or young person's choice. | All children and young people with a disability |
| Additional Support Funding | 0 to 18th birthday | Kingston and Richmond | Pays providers for additional support for children and young people with disabilities, complex health and special needs who access mainstream short break activities. | Mainstream activity providers |
| Challengers |
4 to 12
13 up to 18th birthday |
Kingston and Richmond |
Saturday and Holiday Playschemes |
Inclusive schemes for disabled children and young people. Siblings can also attend for a fee payable by the family. |
|
5 and 8 9 to 15 |
Kingston and Richmond | May half term, October half term and February half term | Mild to moderate learning disabilities. | |
| 8 to 17 | Richmond | May half term, October half term and February half term | Mild to moderate Learning Disabilities, Social Communication Conditions, ADHD and other additional needs. | |
|
5 to 11 5 to 11 11 to 18
|
Kingston and Richmond | After school groups |
|
|
| Water Sports at Albany Outdoors | 12 to 18 | Kingston and Richmond |
Tuesdays from 5.30pm to 7.30pm |
Pan disability (speak to centre to discuss needs) |
| Richmond Aid Buddy Up Scheme | 14 to 17 | Kingston and Richmond | Buddies to increase independence and confidence through travelling and getting out and about more in their community. | Young people with disabilities or additional needs. |
| Home and Community Support | 0 to 17 and five months old | Kingston and Richmond | One to one support for children and young people with a disability in their own home or in the community by arrangement with family. | Children and young people with disabilities |
Specialist sessions/assessed need for children and young people with more complex needs |
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| Assessed Need Short Breaks | 0 to 18 years | Kingston and Richmond | Respite and overnight short breaks |
Children who have a permanent and substantial severe or profound disability (levels 3 and 4) who live in the Kingston upon Thames or Richmond upon Thames boroughs and meet the eligibility criteria for the Children with Disabilities Teams. Assessed Need Short Breaks are provided in addition to the Short Breaks listed above. |
Short Breaks during the Covid 19 period
The Short Breaks Team have continued to offer short breaks to disabled children with an assessed need. We have been unable to deliver groups as per government guidance but subject to risk assessments and staff availability we have offered 1:1 support in the child or young person's own home or in the centre. Many families have declined this support due to the family self isolating or not wanting to introduce additional adults into their home. We have also spot purchased additional support from providers who have continued to be active and available.
The commissioned providers have offered a mixed level of support. Some are delivering support in an alternative way such as online, others have reduced the support to a safe level of 1 young person at a time.
For more information parents can contact the short breaks teams:
KingstonShortBreaks@achievingforchildren.org.uk
crofters@achievingforchildren.org.uk
or
geraldine.burgess@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Contact:
Geraldine Burgess
Short Breaks Operations Manager
Phone: 020 8547 6212
Email: geraldine.burgess@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Moor Lane Centre, Moor Lane, Chessington. KT9 2AA
or
Alison Danks
Associate Director of Health Services
Phone: 020 8547 6069 / 07894 235 704
Email: alison.danks@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Secure email: alison.danks1@nhs.net
The Moor Lane Centre, Moor Lane, Chessington KT9 2AA