Liverpool’s Short Breaks Menu
On receipt of a referral we will aim to identify support for your child in your own community. Inclusion is the ethos of the service. The service supports disabled children aged 3 years – 19 years. Below is a description of some of the services that can be provided.
Friendship Groups: Children 8 -19 years. Meet 50 weekends a year minimum of 3 hours per week, maximum of 5 hours depending on activity. Groups meet at transport points across the city. Each young person has an All About Me, which is completed and outlines support needed. The groups are staffed depending on the assessed need of the children. Each group has a 6 week plan which the young people contribute to. The groups develop independence, and self – esteem, and enable young people to make appropriate friendships, having fun with peers. Parent/Carers pay only for the activity.
Overnight Holiday Breaks: Short Breaks Team plan approximately 15 residential holiday breaks throughout the year which is 2 night stays. We go to places like Bendrigg Lodge which is fully accessible, Centre Parcs in the Lake District, and PGL in Shropshire. We also access 2 adapted Caravans in Presthaven Sands. Once your child is settled with us, this may be something they would like to access.
There is a parental contribution of £30 for a two night stay
Sitting Service: When we conducted the Aiming High consultations many families fed back that they would benefit from a Sitting Service. We complete a pen picture of your child and then see which service providers would be available to support your family. This service is only for disabled children. It enables parent/carers to spend time together, or with other siblings who miss out.
It is available one 6 hour session per month, and the parental cost is £10 per session.
Specialist Short Break Provision: Aged 3 years to 17 years, our OFSTED Childcare Registered Provision Specialist Short Break Service will be delivered from Millstead School (L5 3LU). This provision will support young people from 3 -11 years, after school, Saturdays, and school holidays. Young people 13 -19 years access teenager days in holidays too. The sessions run for 4 hours, Saturdays and school holidays, after school 3.15pm to 5.50pm. There is a parental contribution of £3 per session.
Support to access Childcare: There are a number of childcare providers across the city who work in partnership with our service to enable disabled children to access Childcare provision from 3 years to 13 years. To increase capacity within these provisions Short Breaks supports each provision by giving additional trained staff to support inclusion. Each child is registered with that Childcare provider. Each provider will offer an afterschool and 2 days in school holidays supported by the Short Breaks Service.
There is a cost to this service which can be discussed on an individual basis.
Integrated Play and Youth Service: Across the city there are some play projects which are registered from aged 6 years up to 13 years, older if they offer youth provision. Splice Projects Aged 13 – 25 years.
The Short Breaks Team/Fusion in partnership with The Youth Service, Merseyside Youth Association, has 4 Splice projects across the city. These are nights exclusive to disabled children. The ethos behind them was for disabled children to access a youth club, and any additional support is provided. The projects are Clubmoor, Harthill, Childwall and Dingle. They offer a youth night on a weekly basis from 6.30 pm -8.30pm.
Short Break Volunteers: Disabled young people who leave the service at 19 years have the option to become volunteers themselves and then volunteer on Friendship Groups supporting their younger peers. All volunteers complete a DBS via Liverpool City Council and access training. We currently have 7 volunteers who are all previous recipients of the service.
Caravan Family Holidays: The local authority purchased to adapted caravans on the Haven site at Presthaven Sands in North Wales, these are available for families to book at a discounted cost, and are fully adapted, hoist, shower chair, ramp etc. All bookings are handled by Millstead School, contact number 0151 207 4656.
Please go on the following link for more details:www.liverpoolaiminghigh.co.uk