Aiming High for Disabled Children: better support for families (Short breaks)
In May 2007, HM Treasury published a report called Aiming high for disabled children (AHDC): better support for families, based on the Government's review of services for disabled children.
The report recommended ways to improve services by:
- empowering disabled children, young people and their families
- promoting more responsive services and timely support
- boosting provision of vital public services.
One of the recommendations was to recognise the critical importance and significant benefits of short breaks for disabled children and their families.
A total of £370 million is being invested in short break services across the country, with 21 pathfinder areas taking the lead to find innovative and effective ways to improve short break services.
What are short breaks?
Short breaks provide opportunities for disabled children and young people to spend time away from their primary carers. They provide an essential opportunity for carers to recharge their batteries, and disabled children and young people to experience new relationships, environments and positive activities.
A short break may include day, evening, overnight or weekend activities and could take place at home, at an approved carer's home, or in a residential or community setting. It can also include giving the family a break from caring to be with their partner and/or other children and can be the single most important factor in helping their relationships.
Lambeth's programme
This programme will be delivered jointly by Lambeth Children and Young Peoples Services (CYPS) and the Lambeth Primary Care Trust (PCT) in partnership with the voluntary sector.
A new organisation called Together for Disabled Children (TDC) will be providing support.
We are looking at ways to increase the capacity, range and quality of short breaks. We will work in partnership to develop a three year programme to do that.
We want short breaks to match the different needs of families so that all disabled children can have access to more flexible community based services.
This means disabled children, young people and their families need to be involved in deciding what services should be on offer. We do not just want to provide 'more of the same'.
You can read the full report, Aiming high for disabled children: better support for families, by downloading it from the Every Child Matters website.
Latest news
To find out the latest on our Short breaks programme go to our latest news page.
Read the Aiming high for disabled children newsletter.
For further information please contact John Sloan, Short Breaks Transformation Programme Manager on jsloan2@lambeth.gov.uk