www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Children and young people - shared care
Summary of Service
Caring for a disabled child can take its toll on parents and families. That's why short break, or respite, fostering is such a great solution. It allows the family to feel secure that their child is safe and enjoying new and positive experiences with the foster carer.
Details of Service
The children we provide services for have severe or profound disabilities, mostly learning disabilities, but some children and young people may have physical disabilities and complex health-care needs.
Short-break foster carers offer this support during weekends and school holidays. Before carers begin to look after the child, they will spend time getting to know the family. A good relationship between the child, the parents and the carer is vital - no family would let their child stay with anyone in whom they do not have complete confidence and trust.
When everyone feels they know each other well, the carer will begin to look after the child, for agreed periods of time. The length of time offered depends on how much free time you have, the needs of the child and what the parents want. It is usually a weekend every month and some time during school holidays. Short-break foster carers can be linked to one or more families, depending on how much time they have to offer, but it is essential that carers are able to make a firm commitment to a regular pattern of care.
Short Breaks give mum, dad, brothers and sisters:
- Time to relax; knowing that their child is happy and well cared for
- Time to spend with their other children - they have important needs too
- Time to go shopping, go to the dentist or to do the decorating
- The opportunity to have a special day out at short notice, a weekend away, or a planned summer holiday
Short breaks offer the child:
- The chance to make new friends
- The opportunity, like all children, to spend time away from their family, to widen their horizons and offer new experiences
- To help them grow in independence, to find out how other families live
- The fun and enjoyment of sharing with their own special friends
Contact Details
By Post
Family Support (Disabled Children)
Trowbridge Resource Centre
53 Rutland Crescent
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 0NY
By Email
respitecare@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
01225 752198
By Fax
01225 775334
| A to Z Names | Children and young people - shared care, Children and young people - shared care |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Shared care for children |
| PID No. | 261 |
| IPSV Category | Shared care |
| Level 1 Name | Children and young people - shared care |
| IPSV ID | 4263 |
