Short breaks

Short breaks are activities, outside of the home, for children with special educational needs and disabilities. They provide a break for both parents/carers and their child. Families who have disabled children can sometimes benefit from a break from their caring responsibilities.

Short breaks services assist carers to provide care or to do so more effectively. Taking a short break from caring can be a benefit for you and your child. For you it can be an opportunity to spend time with others, or recharge your batteries.

For your child they can have a change of scenery, try new things and/or make new friends.

You can contact our access team directly or be referred from your practitioner or telephone: 0300 555 0050 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

For practitioners and those working with children referrals should be made by completing a request for help and support form (previously MARF).

Following a referral a social worker will contact you to discuss your request to access a short break. In line with the eligibility criteria you will be provided with the right level of support appropriate to your needs. This can be through universal, targeted early help or statutory social care services.

It is recommended that parents or professionals give as much information as possible about the child/young person's disability; this enables us to ensure that the right services are provided at the right time to meet individual needs and to ensure the families have the appropriate support.

We currently fund specialist short breaks services for children who meet the Children’s Services – Children’s Disability Team criteria, and are aged 5-18 years old (unless otherwise stated):

Barnardo's - Is for approved foster carers for overnight respite in family homes. It includes occasional tea-visits or day care in holidays, as assessed.

Progress Care - Is an overnight residential respite service at Stourbridge House. It includes support to children with behavioural challenges.

KIDS - includes two specialist after school clubs for 5-9 years and 9-12 years, two specialist youth groups for young people aged 13-25 years and 18-25 years and all groups run fortnightly to ensure support needs are met. Places are limited and all enquiries can be made to enquiries.orchard@kids.org.uk or telephone 01384 897489. All parent / carers will be required to attend a care planning meeting with a KIDS Co-Ordinator prior to the play scheme.

Activezone is an activity session for children with disabilities and their siblings (aged 5+). The activity aims to provide a fun and safe environment for all children with disabilities to be active with the added benefit of including siblings. Parents are able to stay at the sessions if they want to. The sessions are run by experienced and highly qualified staff with specific equipment and planning and take place at Crystal leisure centre, Stourbridge on Thursdays or at Duncan Edwards leisure Centre on Mondays. To book sessions call or text Dale Rudge on 07970 259921 or email dalerudge@outlook.com. View details of session dates here.

Some of these services are contracts paid for by Dudley Council, some are by Black Country Integrated Care Board and some are jointly funded.

The ‘Small Bids Programme’ provides activities ‘Shorts Breaks for Disabled Children’ Dudley MBC have assigned a of budget for 2024/2025 financial year.

The Programme activities for Short Breaks for Disabled Children are about Innovation and providing activities that can increase the reach and support social/recreational interaction for (Special Educational Needs- SEN)/disabled children and young people in a safe environment.

The Programme aims to serve children and young people from 0-18.

The programme has been running for a number of years, giving organisations the opportunity to provide activities which meet the needs of children and young people accessing their services and attracting new participants.

Awards made for under the Short Breaks for Disabled Children are advertised on the Local Offer, to ensure children, young people and families are aware of activities that are available in the Borough and provide choice to children and young people on what they wish to access to enhance and develop their social and recreational skills.

The maximum amount of funding that can be applied for in each application is £499, organisations are required to complete an application which is then considered by a panel made up of individuals that have a vested interest in this area of work.

Panel members meet monthly with notifications sent out 3 working days after a panel meeting.

Guidance information, submission dates and application process are identified on the links below.