What is a Short Break?
All young people in Bolton should be able to access parks, playgrounds, entertainment and sports facilities.
Short breaks provide a specialist service which aims to support disabled children and their families, over and above those opportunities available to all families. They include services which you may think of as 'respite care', but 'short breaks' is a better way of describing support from which both children and parents benefit.
Who can have a Short Break?
Short breaks are available to disabled young people in Bolton aged 0 to 18 and their families. Short breaks have two main aims:
- to provide a break from caring to support a parent or carer to continue to look after their child in the long term
- to enable disabled children to participate in safe, fun and interesting activities
They can vary from a few hours in a supported activity to overnight stays with another family or in a residential setting.
Bolton Short Breaks Statement
KIDS Charity, Short Breaks overview - a short film produced to promote short breaks, and how they are accessible to children and young people with a disability.
How to request an assessment for a Short Break
In the first instance we recommend you consult the activities and events section for details about what can be accessed without an assessment.
If your child has a severe and substantial disability, they may be eligible for targeted help to provide a short break. An online referral form should be completed by your lead professional and sent through to the Integrated Front Door (IFD). A social worker from the Children with Disabilities Team will offer further advice and guidance, and where appropriate, complete a short break assessment - Resource Allocation System (RAS) - to determine how Short Breaks could support you and your family, and how they will be provided.
Tel: 01204 331500, option 4
Email: CWD@bolton.gov.uk for a discussion
