Short breaks give children and young people with disabilities opportunities to have fun, share experiences and socialise away from their family, whilst giving their parents and carers a break from their caring responsibilities.
In Swindon, we recognise that all children and families are different and may require different types and levels of short breaks support. We aim to ensure that children and young people with disabilities and their families receive the right short breaks at the right time.
We have recently reviewed our short break services for children and young people (aged 0 to their eighteenth birthday) who are Swindon residents and have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
A consultation was open for six weeks from 5 September 2023 to 17 October 2023. We will review the consultation responses and publish a feedback report in November 2023.
There are four types of short breaks available for children and young people (aged 0 to their eighteenth birthday) who are Swindon residents and have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010):
Community groups and activities
Inclusion funding
Specialist groups and activities
Assessed short breaks
Many children and young people with disabilities can access groups and activities available for all children in their local community. Examples include Brownies, Cubs, after-school, leisure or holiday clubs, including activities provided through the holiday activities and food programme.
The Equality Act 2010 states that reasonable adjustments should be made to ensure that children and young people with disabilities receive the same services, as far as this is possible, as those without disabilities. Some activity providers go further to gain accessibility kitemarks, for example the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) or RYA Sailability schemes.
We are committed to supporting children and young people with disabilities to access community groups and activities alongside their non-disabled peers, where this is appropriate. Inclusion funding is available to children and young people who are unable to access community groups and activities despite reasonable adjustments, and require additional support to do so.
The funding is provided directly to the community group or activity provider to employ additional staff for up to 78 hours per year so that the child or young person can access an activity. ;We pay a maximum rate of £10.42 per hour and do not fund the cost of the activity itself.
You can make a referral for inclusion funding through Aiming High via the Swindon Borough Council website. If you are unable to refer online, contact Aiming High via AimingHigh@swindon.gov.uk or 01793 464080. We accept referrals from parents, carers or anyone working with the child, including the community group or activity provider.
We recognise that children and young people’s needs may fluctuate over time. To make sure children and young people continue to receive the right support at the right time, we review inclusion funding packages annually. These reviews will coincide with any review of a child or young person’s education, health and care (EHC) plan, if applicable.
Specialist groups and activities are only available for children and young people aged 5 to 18 years old with multiple, complex needs who cannot access community groups and activities with additional support provided through inclusion funding.
Specialist groups and activities include:
A range of specialist activity groups for up to 78 hours per year. Groups run during evenings, Saturdays and school holidays. Please note there is a cost to parents of £3.00 per hour.
A subsidised place for a child to attend a commissioned specialist group or activity, such as:
Brunel Education Short Breaks, based at Upper Shaw Ridge Farm, for up 78 hours per year. Sessions run after school, weekends and school holidays. Please note there is a cost to parents of £3.00 per hour.
ARC Sparkle and Liberty weekly term-time groups for children with an Autistic Spectrum Condition diagnosis. Please note there is a cost to parents of £3.00 per hour.
STEP Saturday Club for 2.5 hours once a month plus an additional session during the summer holidays. There is no cost to parents. Transport is provided to and from the sessions.
Please note sibling reductions apply for all activities with a cost to parents (first child full price, subsequent children half price). If cost is a barrier to accessing the service, please contact Aiming High to discuss concessions.
We recognise that children and young people’s needs may fluctuate over time. To make sure children and young people continue to receive the right support at the right time, we review inclusion funding packages annually. These reviews will coincide with any review of a child or young person’s education, health and care (EHC) plan, if applicable.
Further specialist short breaks (including overnight support) are available via a statutory assessment by a social worker. Not all disabled children and young people are eligible for further specialist short breaks, but as their parent you can request an assessment by us explore any needs arising from their disability.
Please contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), clearly stating that you are requesting an assessment of need on behalf of your child on the grounds of disability. It is helpful to provide a brief outline of the impact of your child’s needs to enable MASH to determine the appropriate level of assessment (defined by the Swindon multi-agency threshold guidance). This will help us decide which service (early help or social care) should make the assessment. You can also contact MASH via contactswindon@swindon.gov.uk or 01793 464646.
If a statutory assessment is undertaken and unmet needs identified that require further specialist short breaks, an individual package of support will be offered. There is no cost to parents for assessed short break packages.
We recognise that children and young people’s needs may fluctuate over time. Therefore, in order to ensure that disabled children and young people continue to receive the right support at the right time, statutory assessments are undertaken on an annual basis and short break packages are continually reviewed as part of child in need, child protection or child looked after planning.
Please note, in line with Swindon’s Personal Budget Policy, if your child is eligible for short breaks through Aiming High or via a statutory assessment, then you can choose to take a personal budget instead of, or as part of, their short breaks package. Personal budgets enable parents and carers to make their own arrangements for short breaks. Many families in Swindon choose to take a direct payment (a type of personal budget) to employ a worker to support their child to access social and leisure activities in the community or to provide domiciliary care. Personal budgets are reviewed in line with the frequencies stated above.
The local authority’s case management system, Capita ONE, will be unavailable from 4.00pm on Tuesday, 30 April until 5.00pm on Wednesday, 1 May whilst essential maintenance is completed. As a result, we may be unable to provide you with information / process your requests until the system is back online. We ask that documents are not uploaded to the Portal until the work is completed, to prevent any issues arising. Service delivery will return to normal on Thursday, 2 May.
