Blackburn with Darwen's Short Breaks Statement 2020 - 2021

The BwD Short Breaks Statement for 2020-2021 is available by clicking on the link in the Downloads box.

What are Short Breaks?

It is important that all children and young people have the opportunity to experience a range of different activities. For children and young people with disabilities we know that it is important to be able to access activities alongside siblings and friends, in a safe environment which at the same time allows young people to stretch boundaries. This benefits parents and carers too, by giving them valuable time away from caring which is so important to everybody’s quality of life.

Short breaks aim to provide these opportunities. Depending on the needs of the child, young person and carer, provision can range from an hour a few times a week with a support worker to help access universal services in the community, ranging to a number of overnight breaks each year for those children and young people with complex needs.

Short breaks can be provided by the local authority or other partners including health, as well as the private and voluntary sectors. Alternatively, the family can choose their own provider using a system of Direct Payments, which is part of our commitment to provide personalised services to our families

There is further information about Short Breaks as you scroll down this page and in the document in the Downloads box, but  ...

How Can I Request an Assessment for my child?

The easiest way to request an assessment is via self-referral to Children’s Social Care (children aged from birth to 18 years) by telephoning the Referral Information Co-ordinators on (01254) 666400 or alternatively to Children’s Assessment and Duty Service (CADS) formerly known as MASH whereby a referral form needs to be completed by a professional that is working with the family.

When a young person is aged 18 or over, please contact the Customer Liaison Team on (01254) 587547

Once this assessment is complete, and a short break has been identified as a need the social worker or child support officer will provide information about the range of services and breaks available and how often they will be required in order to meet the assessed need. The assessment will take into consideration the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and the 1989 Children’s Act, as well as the Equalities Act 2010. 

Introduction to BwD's 2020-2021 Short Breaks Statement

Purpose of this Statement

We know parents often find it difficult finding information they need, and so this statement sets out to help parents and carers understand:

  • the range of short breaks services available.
  • the criteria by which eligibility for services will be assessed.
  • how the range of services in Blackburn with Darwen is designed to meet the needs of our children with disabilities and their families.

What are the criteria?

There are a wide range of social opportunities available to all children and young people in the borough, including disabled children which are universally available to all. 

Additional short break provision is available to disabled children or young people aged 0 – 25 years of age. The sole criteria promoted by Blackburn with Darwen is need.

In order to assess need, the social worker will talk to the child or young person and their carers and seek to understand:

  •  views of the child and parents                 
  •  methods of communication/how they choose to communicate
  •  parenting capacity of the parents within their family
  •  the length of time away from home and frequency of such stays
  •  the potential impact on the child/ren’s place in the family and on their parents   or carers (for example, the impact on siblings and how they may interact)
  •  observation of the child – especially for children who do not communicate   verbally – during or immediately after the break by a person familiar with the   mood and behaviour of the child 
  •  Can yours or your child needs be appropriately met via Universal Services.

All assessments will consider the needs of both the child and carer and will not be in isolation. As a general rule, those with the highest levels of need will have access to higher levels of service, irrespective of age, race, religion, gender or the nature of impairment.

Range of Short Breaks Services Available

We have a range of services available to support parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities or assessed needs. These generally fall under two categories: those that are universally available to all and those that are targeted to meet the disabled children’s identified needs.

Contact for further information

If families have any questions about short breaks, please contact the Children’s Disability Service Duty Officer, Monday to Friday 2pm-5pm on (01254) 503773

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Page last reviewed: 26/02/2024

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