Home Based Short Breaks for Disabled Children

Overview

Market Testing

The Council is proposing to carry out a procurement exercise for the provision of Home based Short Breaks for disabled children and young people during 2016. This questionnaire is designed to find out how the service should be modelled and contracted for.

Home Based Short Break services are  a one to one service delivered by a suitability qualified and experienced short breaks worker to a disabled child or young person. This service can be delivered either from the home or outside the home, depending on the individual care and social needs of the child/young person.

Service provision will need to be made up of a wide range of activities.  including, but not limited to; personal care, social, emotional and intellectual care. Individual care plans with need to be agreed at point of referral between the family, referring body (MOSAIC Disabled Children’s Team) and the Provider.

The Council is looking to put in place a model for the following categories of service:

• Children who have range of disabilities from physical to learning (Generic)
• Children who need behaviour management support (behaviour management)
• Children who have complex range of health needs (complex needs)

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide short breaks services for families with disabled children. Short breaks (previously known as respite) form one element of the support offered to disabled children and young people, aged 0 to18, and their families. Regulations relating to the delivery of short breaks services are contained within the Children Act 1989 and the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulation 2011,

There are currently 500 disabled children and young people receiving a service through MOSAIC (Integrated Services for Disabled Children). 310 of these are receiving support services through the social work team, including short breaks.  Since 2008, the demand for Short breaks in Camden has increased by 23%.  It is anticipated that there will be an annual increase in demand of approximately 4.5% based on the number of premature births and children diagnosed with learning/behaviour disabilities, particularly social and communication disorder such as autistic spectrum disorder.

Purpose of the service:

To provide a much needed break for parent/carer whilst also providing a positive activity/experience for disabled child/young person.

Overarching strategic outcomes:

• Children and young people live in safe and nurturing communities:

Parents/carers of disabled children/young people are supported to provide the best opportunities for their children.

• Children and young people enjoy learning and achieve the best they can:

Disabled children and young people are supported through schools and leisure activities to learn and develop new skills and are supported through transition from children’s into adult services           

• Children and families take part in positive activities they enjoy:

Outcomes for disabled children/young people are improved through positive experiences whilst providing a much needed break for the parents/carers.

• Children, young people and families live free from poverty:

Support parents & carers to maximise economic wellbeing and improve their quality of life.

• Children, young people and families are involved in decision-making: Families are involved in decisions about the service and support they receive

Service objectives:

To provide a home based short breaks service for families caring for a child/young person with a disability and or complex health needs that will: 

• Provide child centred care which contributes to the disabled child living within their family, promotes social inclusion, independence and empowerment
• Services are tailor made to meet the individual needs of child/young people
• Provide short breaks for the families coping with the demands of caring for their disabled child/ young person 
• Reduce the need for more intensive provision by supporting parents

Service Description:

Home based short breaks is a one to one service usually based in or around the family home. These breaks are usually provided regularly over planned periods of time to give parent/carers a break from caring whilst also offering a positive experience for the child or young person.

Service provision will need to be made up of a wide range of activities, including, but not limited to; personal, social, emotional and intellectual care. Individual care plans with be agreed at point of referral between the family, referring body and the Provider.  Focus of the service will be on maintaining the usual routine of those children being cared for during the short breaks period. This could include assisting with activities such as play, meals times, bed time routines and reading etc.

The service is provided by Short breaks workers who are trained and experienced in supporting disabled children and young people. They will work in and around the home and can work at any time including overnight with the worker either sleeping in or staying awake depending on what’s identified in the care plan.

Specialist Service for children and young people with complex disabilities health needs:

Children and young people with complex health needs including those with physical and/or learning disabilities, those who require palliative care (continuing nursing care) and those with associated sensory impairments. Short breaks worker will be trained to care for children with complex health needs and life limiting/threatening conditions. They will provide periods of care/play in the home and community setting, allowing parents short break.

Positive Behaviour Support: 

Short breaks worker will be trained to reduce challenging behaviours via supporting the family to implement positive behaviour strategies in the home and community.

Challenging Behaviour is how we talk about a range of behaviour which some young people with severe learning disabilities may display to get needs met.

Potential model and expected outcomes:

It is proposed that the preferred service model would be for a period of up to two years starting in the second half of 2016

Providers can bid for one or more of the three categories of service highlighted above. The council would also encourage consortiums bids where possible.

Before commencing a procurement process, the Council wishes to undertake market sounding on the process and therefore would welcome the views of providers on the questions set out below

What happens next

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey. We welcome any feedback you are able to provide.

Your feedback will be used to inform how the council provides services in the future