Short Breaks and Support Services for Families with Disabled Children

16 to 17 years

Short Breaks and Support Services for Families with Disabled Children aged 16-17 years

The Joint Service for Disabled Children will work with all mainstream providers to ensure that whenever possible children are supported to enjoy themselves through participating in their local facilities.  This may, for example, be at an after school club or at an arts or sports activity.

We will do this by providing information, advice and guidance to parents and to settings for example to sports clubs or leisure centres.

This will ensure that wherever possible you are supported to use services used by all parents.

The Local Offer - A Minimum Level of Short Breaks and Services:

• During Enfield 's main school summer holiday a minimum of 2 leisure activity sessions between Monday and Saturday for a minimum of 4 weeks.
• During Enfield 's Easter holiday a minimum of 2 leisure activity sessions between Monday and Saturday for the two-week holiday.
• During Enfield 's Christmas holiday a minimum of 2 leisure activity sessions.  Christmas activities are affected by the Bank Holidays so vary each year.
• During Enfield 's half-term 1 leisure activity session between Monday and Saturday
• During Enfield 's term time 1other short break service. For example, a weekly after school activity or a monthly home sitting session.
• Opportunities to meet with other parents and carers of disabled young people aged 16 plus.  Professionals from within the Joint Service attend these sessions providing advice on education, social care, housing etc. Other professionals, including those from Adult's Services also attend.
• If you have not received a copy of the Parent/Carer 'Moving On' handbook providing advice and information about transition or a copy of the Young Person's Moving On guide, you will be provided with one through your child's school.
• You will have a named Lead Professional to support you and your child through transition to adult's services.

Parents and young people have told us that holiday activities are a priority.   However we know that there will be some parents and young people who may not want group activities so we will discuss with you how we can support you through the provision of another equivalent short break, for example befriending

Some families may prefer to have a direct payment and buy their own short break as part of the Local Offer.  This will involve further discussion with a Social Worker. You may wish to have a direct payment for all or part of your Local Offer.

In addition to the Local Offer you may be eligible for one or more of the following specialist short breaks and/or support services

Specialist Short Breaks

• Home Care
• Befriending
• Holiday activity session during half-term holidays
• Overnight short breaks
• Weekend activities
• Additional holiday activities during the main school holidays

Specialist Support Services

• Support with transport
• Named Lead Professional
• Social Care
• Support for brothers and sisters

Alternatively you may prefer to have a direct payment to fund any of these additional specialist short breaks

We will negotiate alternative arrangements for young people who live in Enfield but don't go to school in Enfield and so may therefore have different school holidays.

We will also need to assess what is a reasonable level of support for families who have a child attending residential school who therefore has a significant amount of time living away from home