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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.
Taken from SENDirect website
Read more about the benefits of Short Breaks on the SENDirect website
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
The current Short Break offer in Kingston and Richmond
We recently consulted with parents, carers, children, young people and providers to provide a review of the Short Breaks statement which you can read below.
Short Breaks Statement August 2019 (opens a pdf)
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.
More about Assessed Need Short Breaks and eligibility criteria
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