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Short Breaks Statement for parents and carers of disabled children and young people in Surrey

Short Breaks Statement for parents and carers of disabled children and young people in Surrey. November 2013. CONTENTS. Introduction to the Short Breaks Statement .................................................

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Short Breaks Statement for parents and carers of disabled children and young people in Surrey

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  1. Short Breaks Statement for parents and carers of disabled children and young people in Surrey November 2013

  2. CONTENTS Introduction to the Short Breaks Statement ................................................. Legal Context ................................................................................................... How was the Statement prepared................................................................... How will the Statement be publicised............................................................ Who is responsible for the Statement............................................................ What are short breaks..................................................................................... How were short breaks developed................................................................. What is the Children’s Disability Register...................................................... How do we know what short breaks are wanted.......................................... How many disabled children and young people are there in Surrey.......... What range of short breaks are available...................................................... Universal services............................................................................................ Targeted Services............................................................................................. Specialist Services........................................................................................... How are short breaks services accessed...................................................... How much do short breaks services cost...................................................... What is the Eligibility Criteria for Short Breaks............................................. What are Direct Payments............................................................................... How do we help young people with disabilities prepare for adulthood...... How will short breaks improve outcomes..................................................... How do we consult with Parents and Carers................................................. How do we consult with children and young people.................................... What’s happening now..................................................................................... Small revenue grants and capital funding...................................................... How can families find out more about Short Breaks..................................... 3 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 2

  3. INTRODUCTION TO THE SHORT BREAK STATEMENT This information is for families living within the Surrey County Council boundary who have a child with a disability aged between 0-18 years.It includes information on the purpose of the Short Breaks Statement and the current range of short break services available in Surrey. LEGAL CONTEXT The Children Act 1989 & the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 require local authorities to provide short break services that are designed to assist individuals who provide care for disabled children to continue to do so, or to do so more effectively by providing them with breaks from caring. The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 provide further details on how local authorities must perform their duty: • to ensure that, when making short break provision, they have regard to the needs of different types of carers, not just those who would be unable to continue to provide care without a break; • to provide a range of breaks, as appropriate, during the day, night, at weekends and during the school holidays; and • to provide parents with a short breaks services statement detailing the range of available breaks and any eligibility criteria attached to them. The Children and Families Bill 2013 also aims to transform the system for children and young people with special education needs (SEN) and disabilities so that services consistently support the best outcomes for them. • The bill aims to extend the SEN system from birth to 25, though the introduction of Education, Health and Care Plans, giving children, young people and their parents greater control and choice in decisions and by ensuring their needs are properly met. • DEFINITION OF DISABILITY • ‘A child/young person aged between 0 and 18 years, who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform normal day-to-day activities’ • Children Act 1989 3

  4. HOW WAS THE STATEMENT PREPARED • Surrey County Council’s first Short Breaks Statement was published in October 2011 and was produced by the Strategic Commissioning team and largely based on information from previous Aiming High for Disabled Children consultations that took place with parents and disabled children and young people. • In 2012 the Short Breaks team reviewed the statement using a self evaluation tool developed by Impact. This was carried out in partnership with key stakeholders including representatives from; Family Voice Surrey, Link Leisure (now Link Able), Barnardo’s (representing the young people’s forum ‘One Voice’), Crossroads and the National Autistic Society. The statement is reviewed on an on-going basis and updated annually. HOW WILL THE STATEMENT BE PUBLICISED The Short Breaks Statement is published on the Surrey County Council website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/shortbreaks • The statement will be publicised to parents and carer’s via the parent forum, the Surrey Children’s Disability Register, the short breaks mailing list and through partners in Health, Education & Social Care. • The statement is also available in other languages and formats upon request. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATEMENT Caroline Budden Deputy Director Children, Schools & Families, Surrey County Council Sheila Jones Head of Countywide Services Children, Schools & Families, Surrey County Council Sandy Thomas Specialist Service Manager Children, Schools & Families, Surrey County Council Amanda Harvey Commissioning & Short Breaks Manager Children, Schools & Families, Surrey County Council. 4

  5. WHAT ARE SHORT BREAKS Short breaks are intended to have positive benefits for both children and their parents & carers. The provision of short breaks is considered an essential part of the support provided to families of disabled children and young people. • Short break services provide • disabled children and young people • the opportunity to: • spend time away from their parents and carers • relax and have fun with their friends • develop their independence. • Short break services give families • an opportunity to: • have a break from their caring responsibilities • rest and unwind • spend time with other members of their family. • Short break provision can range from a few hours a week to an allocated number of overnight breaks per year. • Short breaks can include day, evening, overnight and weekend activities and may take place in the child’s own home, the home of an approved short break carer, or a residential or community setting. It can also include the provision of Direct Payments to meet an assessed need which enables parents to manage and organise their own support. • For more information on Direct Payments see page 17 6

  6. HOW WERE SHORT BREAKS DEVELOPED • The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme and subsequent legislation supported a significant increase in the number and variety of short break play and leisure services across Surrey. • Aiming High was jointly funded by Surrey County Council and NHS Surrey and used to commission and develop over 45 new projects and services, mostly provided by voluntary sector organisations or through special schools. Following the Aiming High Programme, it became a legal duty for local authorities to provide short breaks for disabled children. WHO ARE THE SHORT BREAKS FOR DISABLED CHILDRENS TEAM The Short Breaks team was set up in April 2011 in order to meet the above duty and enable the continuation and development of short breaks services in Surrey. • The Short Breaks team is responsible for: • increasing awareness of short break services available in Surrey • ensuring parents and carers are supported as early as possible • continuing to develop and invest in a range of services to offer and promote choice • monitoring and evaluating existing services to ensure they continue to meet the needs of disabled children • obtaining feedback from parents/carer’s and disabled children about the quality of the service they receive • identifying gaps in provision and supporting organisations to develop new services • providing advice and information on types of services and support available • ensuring disabled children are supported to take part in and enjoy activities. • The aim of the Short Breaks team is: • “to improve the quality and range of short break opportunities available in Surrey” 7

  7. WHAT IS THE DISABILITY REGISTER The Surrey Children’s Disability Register is managed withinthe short breaks team. It was established in partnership with Health and in consultation with parents and children’s charities working in Surrey to meet the requirements of the Children Act 1989. The purpose of the register is to enable Surrey Children’s Service together with health services and children’s charities to identify and plan for disabled children and young people and their parents/carers. Registration on the Surrey Children’s Disability Register is voluntary and is not required in order to access or receive services. However, the register forms part of the short breaks team mailing list, which is used to inform and consult children and young people and their families about new and existing services. Providing us with your contact details means that you will automatically receive a copy of the Surrey Short Breaks Newsletter and regular updates and new developments. • For more information and/or to complete a registration form: • Telephone: 020 8541 8792 • Email: scdr@surreycc.gov.uk • Visit: www.surreycc.gov.uk 25

  8. HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT SHORT BREAKS ARE WANTED The Short Breaks team regularly consults disabled children and young people and their parents and carers about short break services in Surrey. (To find out more see pages 21 & 22) Teenagers would like activities that enable them to learn specific skills such as using the gym, making music and model building. More short breaks need to be available for children and young people with severe disabilities. Disabled children and young people told us… They would like to attend clubs for both disabled and non disabled children and young people. The main thing that stops them from having fun is money. Their top five favourite activities were computers, cookery, music, holidays and going out with friends. The five most important things to them were having fun, spending time with family, playing, making friends and making their own decisions. Parents and carers of disabled children told us… More support is needed in the school holidays They would appreciate weekend breaks including overnight stays, trips out and activity days. 7

  9. HOW MANY DISABLED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THERE IN SURREY The Surrey County Council Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (2008) estimates that there are around 8,500 disabled children and young people living in Surrey. The following information provides a breakdown of the current (2013) needs of disabled children and young people in Surrey: • 43 with complex health and social care needs • 55 ‘Looked After’ by the local authority • 785 receiving social care support • 2037 on the Surrey Children’s Disability Register • 5591 with a Statement of Education Needs 9

  10. WHAT RANGE OF SHORT BREAKS ARE AVAILABLE There are a range of short break services in Surrey that aim to meet the needs of disabled children and young people and their parents and carers. These services are available: Short breaks in Surrey are mainly provided by voluntary organisations (some of which are subsidised by the local authority). Other services are provided in house or contracted by the Short Breaks team/Social Care teams for families who meet the eligibility criteria. See page16 • Term time • After school • Weekday • Saturdays/Sundays • School holidays • Overnights Short Break services can be categorised as follows: Universal Services Targeted Services Specialist Services 12

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  14. HOW ARE SHORT BREAK SERVICES ACCESSED • Families have a choice in what services they access and although access is not necessarily dependent on a formal assessment of need, each provider may outline their own acceptance criteria. • Disabled children and young people can access a short break in Surrey if they: • Are aged between 0 and 18 years • live within the Surrey County Council boundary • Have a disability and/or additional needs that require support to access social, play and leisure opportunities • Disabled children and young people may access a mixture of universal, targeted and specialist services at any one time or move between them according to their age and support needs. 16

  15. HOW MUCH DO SHORT BREAK SERVICES COST • Some short breaks service are free and others charge a fee, however costs are always kept at a reasonable level. • Play schemes generally cost £16-18 per day (10am – 4pm) and £8 for half a day (Parents and carers should not expect to pay more than a non-disabled child accessing a similar type of service). • If you have difficulties in accessing services because of the cost please discuss your situation with the individual provider. • Discounts may be available for families in receipt of benefits or on a low income. DO SHORT BREAKS SERVICES PROVIDE TRANSPORT Parents are responsible for transporting their child to short breaks services unless agreed as part of a statutory care plan. • However, some organisations may provide their own transport – please contact them directly. • Children and young people with disabilities may be eligible for a free disabled person’s bus pass and parents a companion permit through Surrey County Council. • For more information about the free disabled person’s bus pass and how to apply online visit: • Website: www.surreycc.gov.uk 17

  16. WHAT IS THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SHORT BREAKS • Not all children and families will need the same level of support. • Some disabled children and young people will be supported to have their individual needs met by their family and will be able to access short break services directly without the need for a social care referral/assessment. These services are universal and targeted services such as those described on pages 11& 12. • When a child needs extra support, the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) can be used as a simple way of gathering information and recording it in an organised way. The CAF can also be used if you or someone who works with your child feels that they would benefit from extra support. • In certain circumstances a family may have a statutory social care assessment to ensure that the most appropriate level of support is provided. • Disabled children and young people assessed as being at significant risk, or where development would be impaired without provision or services, are eligible for support through the Children with Disabilities Team (s). • In this case, Surrey County Council’s Eligibility Criteria is used to determine: • if the child/family are eligible for help • the type and level of services to be provided to the child and family • the level of services that can be offered; • which may include access to a specialist service as described on page13. • For more information, advice and guidance: • Contact Centre Children's Team • Telephone: 0300 200 1006 • Visit: www.surreycc.gov.uk 18

  17. WHAT ARE DIRECT PAYMENTS Disabled Children and Young people who are eligible for social care support can choose to receive some or all of that support by “Direct Payment”. • This means Surrey County Council transfer money into a suitable account in the name of an adult with Parental responsibility for a disabled child, or in some cases the money can be paid to disabled young people themselves so long as they are over 16 and have the capacity to manage. • Surrey County Council decides whether a disabled child or young person is eligible for support by carrying out an assessment of needs. • Direct Payments can be used flexibly by the family so long as purchases meet the identified needs of the child. Typically parents use the funds to employ a person to support their child at flexible times during the day, or in some cases overnight in the family home. Direct Payments can also be used to buy a range of services including sitter services, residential short breaks (provided it is not a local authority provision), additional support from a Hospice, after school or holiday clubs and activities. • Direct Payments may also be used to purchase or hire specialist disability equipment, providing it meets the child’s assessed needs and has been approved by a Surrey County Council Occupational Therapist. • All Direct Payment purchases need to be accounted for and so recipients are required to send Surrey County Council evidence of what they have purchased. • Surrey County Council have commissioned the help of Surrey Independent Living Council, known as SILC, to support parents with setting up and managing all aspects of their Direct Payments. For further information on any aspect of Direct Payments please contact SILC: • Surrey Independent Living Council • Telephone: 01483 458111 • Website: www.surreyilc.org.uk • Email: admin@surreyilc.org.uk • Minicom: 01483 459977 • Text: 07904812935 • Address: Astolat, Coniers Way, Burpham, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7HL 19

  18. HOW DO WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PREPARE FOR ADULTHOOD (TRANSITION) Surrey County Council acknowledges that supporting young people with a disability through transition to adult life is key to a successful, fulfilling and meaningful experience in their early adult life. Providing young people and their families with the right information, advice, guidance and support will enable them to reach their full potential. • Surrey County Council has a Transition Team that work with eligible young people from 14 – 25 The team work closely with other professionals such as Children with Disabilities teams, Pathways Advisors (formally Connexions), Looked After Children’s teams and schools to ensure planning starts early and both realistic and aspirational opportunities are available for young people as they move into adult life. There is now a named link worker in Key Surrey special schools and parent/carer sessions regularly take part in these schools. This has offered parents and carers the chance to understand the transition process for their sons and daughters and to hear about some of the opportunities available once they leave school and college. These sessions are usually held in partnership with the Pathways Team, Employability (Employment Support Service) and our Commissioners. Surrey are now holding sessions for young people and their families who are in Out of County Special Schools to ensure they hear about Preparing for Adulthood and to also give them an opportunity to create some plans for the future. These sessions are usually held during the Easter and Summer Holidays. From September 2014 children and young people requiring additional support will be offered an Education, Health and Care Plan as an alternative to a Statement of SEN. These reforms are currently going through Government but for further information please go to the Department for Education website: • http://www.education.gov.uk/search/results?q=children+and+families+bill • As part of the SEN reforms each Local Authority needs to produce a local offer to advise children, young people and their families on all aspects of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Surrey is currently creating theirs and has a holding page: • http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/learning/special-educational-needs/pathfinder/the-local-offer The transition process will begin with the young persons Year 9 Annual Review . At this review, transition is discussed and a ‘Transition Plan’ for the young person is created. 23

  19. HOW DO WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PREPARE FOR ADULTHOOD (TRANSITION) CONTINUED... • A number of opportunities that include young people of transition age have been developed through Surrey Short Breaks funding. This includes services such as the Barnardo’s Moving Forward Project and Employability. • New developments • Parents from Family Voice Surrey are now represented on all of the strategic groups that are working on improving transition, including the development of the Education, Health and Care Plan under the SEND reforms. • With support from Barnardo’s young people’s forum ‘One Voice’, a shadow board has been set up to work alongside the Transition Strategy Group to make sure young people feature . • Surrey continues to listen to disabled young people and their families to strive to improve their preparation for adult life. • If you would like to tell us something that would help us improve please contact: • Julie Pointer, Transition Development Manager: julie.pointer@surreycc.gov.uk • For more information visit: • www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk • www.surreycc.gov.uk 24

  20. HOW WILL SHORT BREAKS IMPROVE OUTCOMES • Outcomes are based on identified targets and local priorities. • Disabled children and young people • It’s important that short breaks provide positive outcomes for disabled children and young people in order for them to: • Be Healthy • Stay Safe • Enjoy & Achieve • Make a Positive Contribution • Achieve Economic Well Being • Parents and Carers • Short breaks will give parents and carers opportunities to: • Spend time with other children • Receive regular, planned and reliable breaks from caring • Feel supported to continue to lead a positive family life • Feel happy and relaxed knowing their child’s needs are being met in a safe environment • Prevent family breakdown • Experience less stress HOW WILL WE MEASURE IMPACT • Project Officers from the Short Breaks team routinely monitor, evaluate and review commissioned services by carrying out regular visits, observations and contract meetings at the schemes. As a result the team are confident that services are of good quality and safeguard disabled children. • This information coupled with on-going feedback from parents/carers and disabled children and data collection all contribute to decisions for the future and the planning of services. 20

  21. HOW DO WE CONSULT WITH PARENTS AND CARERS • Surrey Short Breaks work in partnership with parents and carers of disabled children to ensure their views are considered throughout the planning, development and ongoing consultation regarding Short Breaks in Surrey. • The Short Breaks team carry out regular engagement visits to short break settings across Surrey consulting with parents and carers about the services they access. During these visits, parents and carers are asked about their experiences of the service and to give their views about the quality of staff, activities, opportunities and more. • The Short Breaks team also works together with short break providers to encourage regular consultation and engagement activities within their services and continuous development in response to the views of the parents and carers of disabled children and young people. • Furthermore, the team regularly meet with charity and community groups for parents and carers of disabled children to share information and consult them on their views of short breaks in Surrey. • In addition to regular newsletters and e-bulletins, the Short Breaks team joined ‘Facebook’ in 2013 to increase communication and engagement with parents and carers of disabled children. • Parents and carers of disabled children and young people have told us: • “The services in existence are brilliant and provide a lifeline to all who use them however we need more!.” • “Children develop skills and become more • independent as a result of these breaks” • “our lives would be smaller, duller and more • difficult without these opportunities” • “It is so beneficial, he gets to be with children • of all ages and develop friendships.” • “My son absolutely loves the opportunity to be away from home with friends and people of his own age and to take part in activities that would not normally be available to him.” • In addition to consulting directly with parents and carers, the Short Breaks Team also work in partnership with Family Voice (the official parent-carer forum for Surrey) to engage and consult on wider short break projects. • For more information or to join Family Voice Surrey: • Telephone: 01372 705708or visit: www.familyvoicesurrey.org 21

  22. HOW DO WE CONSULT WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE • Surrey Short Breaks work closely with disabled children and young people to ensure their views are considered throughout the planning, development and ongoing consultation regarding short breaks in Surrey. • The Short Breaks team carry out regular engagement visits to short break settings across Surrey consulting with disabled children and young people about the services they access. During these visits, the children and young people are asked about their experiences of the service and to give their views about the quality of staff, activities, opportunities and more. • Furthermore, the team works together with short break providers to encourage regular consultation and engagement activities within their services and continuous development in response to the views of disabled children and young people. • Disabled children and young people tell us: • “The scheme is great, really great; you get to do loads and loads of different things like cooking, swimming, going out, computers, loads of fun stuff.” • It is one of my favourite times. I wish it was every week. I look forward to it. I don’t like going home.” • “I really like coming and I really like the things we get to do. I would like to come more in the summer but it gets booked up a lot. I like swimming when I come.” • “I take part in the fortnightly youth club and I really enjoy it. I have great fun. I like the helpers and the activities are good. I wish it was every week.” • In addition to the above, The One Voice Forum; part of the Barnardo’s‘Moving Forward’ service, receives Short Break funding to provide children and young people with disabilities the opportunity to express their views and opinions about the services they receive throughout Surrey. It aims to ensure that children and young people with disabilities have their voices heard and the opportunity to implement and improve the delivery of services in Surrey to ensure better outcomes for children themselves, young people, organisations and the wider community. • For more information and if you would like to join the One Voice Forum or Young Assessors Scheme, please contact Gareth Lewington, Participation Officer: • Telephone: 01372 844773 • Email: gareth.lewington@barnardos.org.uk 22

  23. WHATS HAPPENING NOW Surrey County Council is now in its 5th successful year of raising the participation of disabled children and young people in rewarding activities and is now looking to re-commission a range of services that offer choice and accessibility in order to meet the on-going needs of disabled children, young people and their families from April 2014 and beyond. • In 2012-2013 • 2,200 disabled children and young people accessed short break services in Surrey. • DID YOU KNOW? • In 2012-2013 • over 350 disabled children and young people were provided with residential short break services. • In 2012-2013 • over 240,000 hours of short break hours were provided to disabled children and young people. For more information about current services view the Surrey Short Breaks Directory by visiting www.surreycc.gov.uk/shortbreaks. 7

  24. SMALL (10K) REVENUE GRANTS • In 2012-2013 Surrey Short Breaks for Disabled Children awarded £358,929.77 in small grants to Surrey organisations and projects in the following categories: • After School Clubs • Leisure • Residential trips • Parent/family support • Performing arts • Small equipment • Saturday Clubs • School Holiday clubs • School residential trips • Sports • Training • Transition development • CAPITAL FUNDING In 2012-2013 Surrey Short Breaks for Disabled Children provided £739,037 of funding towards the following projects: • The redevelopment of two short break centres • A facelift to an outdoor play area • A new car for a buddy service • Specialist seating for a nursery • A minibus for a short break provision • Accessible pathways and upgrade of nature trail • Specialist bicycle and storage. 11

  25. HOW CAN FAMILIES FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SHORT BREAKS • Surrey Short Breaks for Disabled Children • To find out more information about short breaks in Surrey and to access our other publications contact the Surrey Short Breaks for Disabled Children team: • Telephone: 01372 833 073 / 833 638 • Email: shortbreaks@surreycc.gov.uk • Website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/shortbreaks • Social Media: www.facebook.com/surreyshortbreaks • Family Information Service (FIS) • FIS is a free, impartial information service for families with children aged between 0 – 19 (up to 25 for young people with disability or special educational needs). • For information, help or advice you can contact us online in the following ways: • Website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/fis • Email: surrey.fis@surreycc.gov.uk • Telephone: 0300 200 1004 • Social Information on Disability – (SID) • SID is a free information service which covers all Surrey and is for all age group including children with disabilities. • For more information: • Telephone: 0800 0439395 • Website: http://www.asksid.org/fab 26

  26. SURREY SHORT BREAKS AND THE LOCAL OFFER • By September 2014, Surrey County Council will publish a local offer putting all information about health and social services, education, leisure activities and support groups available in the area for children and young people aged 0–25, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in one place. It will also explains the additional or different provision provided for children who have SEND. The Surrey Short Breaks statement and directory of services will form a substantial core of the local offer. • Who is it for? • The local offer will enable parents, carers, children, young people and practitioners/professionals to see clearly which service(s) and support across education, health and social care, are available locally for all children and young people from birth to 25 years with SEND, and how and when they can be accessed. • What must it include? • The local offer must include: • education, health and care provision • arrangements for identifying and assessing children and young people’s SEND • training provision including apprenticeships • travel arrangements to/from early years settings, schools and post 16 providers • support to help children and young people’s transitions between phases and for adulthood • sources of information, advice and support about SEND in the area • arrangements for making complaints, mediation and rights of appeal to the tribunal. • What is Surrey doing to prepare? • Surrey County Council has been working as part of the ‘SE7’ (Brighton and Hove, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex) with representatives from local parent carer forums to plan what should be included in the local offer and the best way to present the information. • SE7 has developed a local offer framework which all seven authorities will follow. We are planning, with children and young people, parents and carers, schools, colleges, health services and the voluntary and community sector, how best to collate and present this information including IT solutions and we have trialled it with education settings. 26

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