Short breaks carers - south west

Caring for children or young people with a disability is an incredible thing to do. As a short breaks carer, you will provide a safe and fun environment for a child or young person with a disability in your own home.

Short breaks provides short stays for disabled children in the home of a carer. Each short stay lasts at least for 24 hours, often two nights. These can be weekends, midweeks, and school holidays.

Short breaks carers offer children with disabilities a safe, meaningful, and enjoyable experience with another family. They also help families get a much-needed break and parents benefit by knowing their child is safe and cared for during this time.

Our aim is to provide the children with enjoyment, safety, and fulfilment during their short breaks away from their own home. As well as having fun, our objectives are to support the children to manage their own self-care and danger awareness, promote independence, build new relationships, experience a different household, and access facilities in the local community.

The children our carers support are between 0-18 years of age and have a range of different types of disability. Some children have learning disabilities and some children are neurodiverse – they may have an autism diagnosis.

They may have communication difficulties or needs affecting the senses. Some have attachment, trauma, or associated emotional needs. Some may have more medical needs such as epilepsy, colostomy, gastrostomy. Other types of disability include global development delay and Down syndrome.

Some carers will do this as a full-time role. Others will do smaller chunks of short breaks when they are not at work.

As a short breaks carer, you will need to:

• Have a spare room.
• Be over 21 years of age.

Ideally we would like people to have some kind of previous experience with supporting children or adults with a disability, either in a work or personal capacity. However, we have excellent training available.

We’re here to train and support you. As a short breaks carer, you will receive:

• Excellent training in managing children’s disabilities and health needs.
• A fee of £110 per night and mileage allowance.
• 24 hour support - carers have their own social worker who they'll work with closely to put a support plan in place.
• You’ll also have support from the whole short breaks team, which includes an experienced Paediatric Nurse, Child & Family Practitioner, and a Transitions Worker.
• Access to Changing Minds UK Psychology service. Carers can access sessions with a clinical psychologist to better understand a child’s needs and behaviours and receive advice about different approaches.
• Support groups - carers are invited to three or four support groups per year – this gives the carers the opportunity to meet with other short breaks carers.
• Events - we arrange events throughout the year for children and carers. This gives the children and carers the opportunity to mix and have fun with other children and families.

Devon

Torbay, Exeter, Barnstable, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Tiverton, Exmouth, Ivybridge, Bideford, and Honiton.

Somerset

If you live in Somerset and are interested in becoming a short breaks carer then we want to hear from you. We urgently need short breaks carers across Somerset.

Service Name:

Short Breaks

Service Type:

Disability, Fostering, Early Years and Family Support

Phone:

01392 360865

Email:

[email protected]

Address:

8 Powderham House, Park 5, Harrier Way, Sowton, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7HU