Short Breaks for Disabled Children

Cheshire East Council is seeking to commission a number of providers to deliver short breaks for carers of disabled children, forming a continuum of services as part of the ‘Cheshire East Local Offer’. Short breaks focus on early intervention and prevention, supporting the development of innovative solutions to best meet the needs of children in need and their families.

Interventions should be designed to promote independence, life skills and improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and their families, preventing the escalation of needs thereby reducing demand on social care and health services.

Short breaks come in all shapes and sizes, each one can last from a few hours to a few days – from daytime and evenings to weekend and activities, they provide disabled children and young people with:

• Positive and safe things to do and places to go
• The opportunity to spend time with friends, to develop personally and socially, and reduce isolation
• The chance to undertake new activities and have new experiences

They can take place in a community setting, the child’s own home, the home of an approved carer or in a residential setting.

They provide parents and families of disabled children and young people with a necessary and valuable break from their caring responsibilities.