Short Breaks Services

Ben Palmer

Introduction: Ben Palmer

Background and current projects:

• Special Educational Needs (SEN)

• Short Breaks Service Provider

• Commissioner for Children with Disabilities

• Operations Manager for the Short Breaks (VCS) Consortia

• Parent Carer Associate for Contact a Family

Why is Parent Participation Important?

The following points have been cited as benefits of Parent Participation:

• Parent participation promotes positive working relationships

• Parent participation leads to realistic expectations

• Parent participation makes effective use of resources

• Parent participation supports legal requirements

Parent Participation in Bedford

‘Effective and meaningful participation happens when parents have conversations with, and work alongside, professionals, in order to design, develop and improve services.’

Structure: Families United Network were involved in developing Parent Participation in the role of host organisation, with support and funding from the local authority, and the CaF Parent Carer Participation grant.

Parent Participation in Bedford (Continued)

Areas of Participation: Short Breaks Services Consultation; Short Breaks Statement review; Family Fun Day & Speed Networking Event; review of Health Services and ongoing commitments to the SEND reforms.

Outcomes: Professionals were better able to understand what needs to happen to develop services; and Families the complexities and challenges faced by the professionals.

All about Short Breaks

Short Breaks help disabled children and young people to do many of the activities children without disabilities take for granted.

They help them have fun, try new activities, gain independence and make friends.

Short Breaks can include daytime, evening, overnight, and weekend activities; activities during the school holidays; and can take place in the child's home, the home of an approved carer, or in a residential or community setting.

What Short Breaks are Available?

Local authorities typically provide a range of Short Breaks which are designed to provide support to families, these often include:

• Direct Payments

• National Childminding Association

• Care Agencies

• Family Link (Foster Carers)

• Short Breaks Residential Childrens Homes

• Clubs & Specialist Holiday Play Schemes

Further details can be found in Luton’s Short Breaks Services Statement

Short Breaks (VCS) Consortia

Luton Borough Council and London Luton Airport Ltd are working with the Short Breaks (VCS) Consortia who provide a range of Short Breaks Services.

The Short Breaks (VCS Consortia), through their collective experience, talent and community resources are best placed to oversee the development of Short Breaks Services.

We would like to enable the effective and meaningful participation of children & young people and their parents & carers in the design and development of Short Breaks Services.

Short Breaks (VCS) Consortia Membership

Centre for Youth and Community Development

Autism Bedfordshire

DimensionsFamilies United

NetworkFriends of Bright EyesNeet

TeensPhab FrendzRainbow Special Needs Play

SchemeSpecial Needs Out of School Club

Short Breaks Services Website

We would like to make a website, and would like some feedback from you so we can make sure that it does the following things:

• Provides useful information to families about the range of Short Breaks available in Luton, who they are for and how to access them

• Allows people to feedback their experiences of Short Breaks either good or bad, and any other things that may affect them

• Involve in how new services are designed, set-up and monitored

• Shares examples where really good Short Breaks happen; and resources to help those who provide Short Breaks

• Is an information hub for professionals providing support to families in Luton so they know more about Short Breaks

Short Breaks Services Feedback

To help us understand what families most want from Short Breaks Services, we would like some feedback from you:

Questions?