Specialist and overnight short breaks
Specialist and overnight short breaks
Specialist short breaks are for families with children whose needs are considered to be more complex.
Some families can support their child through their own networks and with informal support from friends, relatives and local support groups. Some families do not have the support available and need additional help. Children and young people with the most complex needs need an individual support package. This is accessed through a Child and Family Assessment which is done by a social worker.
How specialist and overnight short breaks can help
A Child and Family Assessment may identify a need from the following types of support:
- the needs will concern the parent's ability to care for and continue to care for the child
- they are concerned with trying to stop the need for court proceeding
- they are also for stopping the need for children to be accommodated fulltime
- general duties regarding the welfare of the child
The types of services that may be used to meet the above needs if assessed that they are needed, would be:
- advice, guidance and counselling
- occupational, social, cultural or recreational activities
- domiciliary care services
- facilities for, or assistance with, travelling to and from home for the purpose of taking advantage of any other service provided under this the Children Act 1989 or of any similar service
- assistance to enable the child concerned and his family to have a holiday
- overnight short breaks or day care short breaks
Direct payments are offered in lieu of any of the services that are mentioned above. They are cash payments that are put into a budget where parent/carer/children can use that money to develop their own support plan.
Access the specialist and overnight short breaks service
For more information, you can contact your Child and Family Worker.
Call 01229 408 100
or email shortbreaks.westmorlandandfurness@.gov.uk
Child and Family Assessments
The child and family assessment is used by social workers to understand the family circumstances and how this impacts on the child/children.
The assessment can take up to a maximum of 45 working days to complete (only in exceptional circumstances). The areas it looks at includes:
- child developmental needs
- parenting capacity
- the family and environmental factors
The assessment will:
- be strengths based
- include information from other agencies
- include direct work with the child to ensure their voice is heard
- include the views of both parents
- include a family tree/genogram developed with the child and parents
- include a network meeting to understand who else supports your child and family
We will talk about what services are available to help your child achieve positive outcomes. If your child is not eligible for Specialist and Overnight Short Breaks, we will share advice and information on other services available in your area.