Short Breaks Children
What is a 'short break' statement?
This short break statement is provided for families living in the Neath Port Talbot area who have a disabled child between the ages of 0 and 18. This statement provides a range of information so that families know what short breaks are available in the Neath Port Talbot area, any eligibility criteria and how the range of local services are designed to meet the needs of families.
What is a 'short break'?
Many parents and carers might have heard of the term short break or respite. These two terms are often used, but can mean the same thing. Short breaks allow parents and carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities.
As well as short breaks providing a break from caring for parents, they also give disabled children opportunities to enjoy social and leisure activities, have fun, socialise and make friends. Short breaks may also help the child and young person to develop a range of independence skills out of the family home.
Recognising the wide range of needs of disabled children and their families, there are three levels of short break services:
Tier 1: Universal
Universal short break services are available to all children and young people; no social work assessment is required. Referrals can be made directly by a parent to the service (self referral). Examples include after school clubs, sports clubs, cadets and play schemes.
Tier 2: Targeted
Targeted short break services are for children and families who require support to access universal services, preventative services or more intensive levels of support. A social work assessment may be required to access some of these services. Examples include the disability sport scheme and play schemes operating from community organisations, leisure centres and specialist centres. Normally, staff delivering these targeted short break services have received specific training to support disabled children and young people.
Tier 3: Specialist
Specialist short break services are community based services who provide specialist support for disabled children and young people. A social work assessment is required to access this support. Example include specialist play schemes, services offering specialist group or individual activities, overnight short breaks and direct payments.
Tier 4: Intensive specialist
Intensive specialist short break services are for disabled children and young people who are living away from home, either in hospital, children’s residential homes, foster care or custody. A social worker or consultant medical practitioner (i.e. psychiatrist) is required to access this support. Examples include specialist psychiatric unit, children’s residential home and foster care provision.
What short breaks are available in Neath Port Talbot?
There are a number of different types of short breaks available locally. Below is a table of the range of local short break services and advice on how to access these services.
| Type of Service | Example of Service | Access to Service |
|---|---|---|
| School holiday play schemes | Mainstream play schemes which are available to all children. | Families can make their own referral to these play schemes. |
| School holiday play schemes | Specialist play schemes which run through the school holidays and are specifically designed for disabled children. |
You need a social worker to access some specialist play schemes. An assessment may be required to identify if you or your child needs any support. |
| Evening and weekend play/activity clubs | Local activity club where they have a variety of activities provided. |
Families can contact these clubs directly. Information about local activities is also available on the Family Information website. |
| Evening and weekend play/activity clubs | Specialist play and activity clubs which are specifically designed for disabled children. |
You need a social worker to access some specialist play and activity clubs. An assessment may be required to identify if you or your child needs any support. |
| Sports clubs | Mainstream sports clubs which are available to all children. | Families can contact these clubs directly. |
| Sports clubs |
Neath Port Talbot have a They also can advise on support for disabled children to access mainstream clubs. |
Families can contact these clubs directly. |
| Overnight short breaks | Park House is an overnight short break facility which offers overnight support to disabled children. |
You need a social worker to access overnight short breaks. An assessment will be required to identify if you or your child needs any support. |
| Overnight short breaks | Family Link is an overnight short breaks service which offers overnight support to disabled children within an approved Family Link Carer’s home. |
You need a social worker to access overnight short breaks. An assessment will be required to identify if you or your child needs any support. |
| Direct Payments | A direct payment can be used to employ a personal assistant by a parent and the parent becomes the employer. |
You need a social worker to access direct payments. An assessment will be required to identify if you or your child needs any support. If a need is identified, you have the option of choosing to receive direct payments to meet that need and become an employer. |
| Individual and Group Support | We can commission services from local and national providers where children can be taken out on a one to one basis or attend a group activity dependent on their needs. |
You need a social worker to access this support. An assessment will be required to identify if you or your child needs any support. |
Criteria for the childcare disability team
For some short breaks to be accessed a completed ‘Children and Young Person’s assessment’ is required by the Child Care Disability Team. To be eligible for an assessment,
the below criteria applies:
Children and young people from birth to eighteen years if they are physically or sensory impaired, or have learning disabilities and:
- If their disability means they have significantly greater difficulty with physical, intellectual, social, emotional or educational development than the majority of children of the same age.
- If these difficulties are such that the child requires social work assessment/care planning by the Child Care Disability Team to:-
- a) Make effective use of the facilities of a kind generally available for children of the same age.
- b) Promote every day functioning at home and in the community.
- c) Access specialist inter-agency help to maximise physical, social, emotional and educational progress.
Physical Disability
- Difficulties with all basic functions of such severity that one-to-one assistance is called for all care needs.
- Physical difficulty or chronic illness resulting in long-term impairment of health or development, even with the provision of drugs, diet or aids.
Learning Disability
- Requiring constant supervision and dependent on others even for basic day-to-day care needs. Broadly based on measured levels of social functioning and social history.
- A permanent learning impairment sufficient to prevent the child/young person from fulfilling roles/activities which are generally understood to be within the capacity of children of that age, social and cultural background.
Visual Impairment
- Blind, no useful vision, partially sighted, visual difficulties sufficient to impair every day activities and/or development despite the use of aids.
Hearing Impairment
- Little or no hearing. Hearing difficulties even with hearing aids. Has, or is likely to have, persistent difficulty with language and communication sufficient to impair development.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age.
The views of parents and young people
How will short breaks be reviewed in Neath Port Talbot?
It is important that short breaks meet the needs of parents and children and young people in our local area.
We constantly review our services by holding reviews when children and young people access short breaks following an assessment. We also undertake annual consultation with children, young people, families and various stakeholders to review the quality and range of short break services in Neath Port Talbot.
It is important that we gain a wide range of views and feedback which is used to shape the short breaks offering in Neath Port Talbot.
Parents have told us that they find short breaks very supportive as it gives them a rest from their caring role.
Feedback we have had from children and young people tells us that they enjoy spending time with friends and taking part in events and activities.
Contact details
How do I get more information about arranging a short break?
We will need some information about your circumstances. We can meet you to discuss your situation and what kind of help you think you, your children and your family need.
For more information contact the Childcare Disability Team
How to make a referral
Parents who wish to receive a children and young persons assessment can contact the Single Point of Contact Team (SPOC) at:
Professionals can make written referrals with the consent of parents working with the family, to the One Point of Contact Team at:
You can download a referral form by clicking and returning to spoc@npt.gov.uk
Useful Links
- NPT Pupil Inclusion
Website: visit NPT Pupil Inclusion website - NPT Special Educational Needs Transport
Tel: (01639) 763812
Website: visit NPT Special Educational Needs website - Blue Badges
Tel: (01639) 686Welsh868, Email: fcs@npt.gov.uk
Website: visit Blue Badges website - West Glamorgan Safeguarding Board
- Integrated Autism Service
Integrated Autism Service
Tonna Hospital
Tonna
Neath
SA11 3LX
The Complaints/Appeals Procedure
If a person using services or their carer wishes to challenge any decisions made, they should refer to the council's appeals procedure. This process includes a clear appeal route and a timetable for dealing with appeals.
Individuals and/or their carers should receive information explaining how to complain about Social Services in Neath Port Talbot, which is available in accessible formats and different languages. The leaflet and details of the online complaints procedure can also be accessed via the council's website . The designated telephone number for the Adult Services Complaints Department is