Short Breaks and respite care for children with disabilities or additional needs

These are services that are provided or available to all children, young people and their families in their local community.

All children and young people should be able to access opportunities which are happening in their local communities. These opportunities can be found at children’s centres, libraries, swimming pools and sports centres, youth groups, parks, playgrounds, community centres and many more.

Wherever possible these are the opportunities which should be used as a first point of call. These services have a duty under the Equalities Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and not to treat a disabled person less favourably.

You can search clubs and activities in and around Southampton in our directory.

How can I access this?

They are accessed by families directly. There is a growing list of activities that are part of The Max Card scheme. These are promoted on The Max Card website.

These are services that are aimed at children and young people with needs that require more support than available through universal services. They may need groups or services that are specifically designed to meet their needs.

Families have access to a MAX Card Plus if they:

• Receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP),
• But don't receive an individual package of support via services at the substantial or complex level

The MAX Card Plus offers easy access to a range of concessions or discounts across the city. This recognises that these children are able to access the majority of services available to all children.

Additionally, the MAX Card Plus will offer booking rights into subsidised activities in and around Southampton. The short breaks programme will fund two main types of activities:

• Specialist Activities – run specifically for children and young people with moderate to complex needs
• Support to attend mainstream activities, play schemes, clubs and groups

How can I access this?

Any parent or carer can apply to The Buzz Network if their child with disabilities or additional needs is:

• Aged between 0 and 18
• Living within the Southampton City Council boundary
• In receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Substantial support services are for disabled children, young people and their parent/carers who require more support than is available through low or medium support services.

Family’s needs who are assessed to be substantial will be supported through the relevant social care team. These teams will be able to complete a short breaks assessment. If eligible, the family will receive an individual package of support through a personal budget. This might include:

• Individual support in the home or community (e.g. outreach)
• Direct Payments – to purchase individual support in line with the personal budget and direct payment policy
• They may also be able to access the non-assessed short break activities at a subsidised rate, purchased through direct payments
• A mixture of more than one of these options

How can I access this?

A parent/carer or professional working with the child can make a referral via the child’s social worker. If a child is not already open to a social care team, then a referral can be made via the Children's Resource Service, with the consent of the child’s parents.

If eligible, the social worker will carry out an assessment of needs. This assessment will consider the impact of the child’s disability on them and their parent/carer and siblings. This could result in an assessed need for additional support or respite.

It is recommended that you complete a Children's Resource Service referral form for new referrals.

Telephone: 023 8023 3004

Families open to the JIGSAW Children with Disabilities Team will have an assessment of needs. If eligible, they will receive an individualised short breaks package of support through a personal budget. This might be through:

• Individual support in the home or community (e.g. outreach)
• Family-based overnight and day care
• Residential overnight short breaks
• Direct Payments – to purchase individual support in line with the personal budget and direct payment policy
• A mixture of more than one of these options

They may also be able to access the non-assessed short break activities at a subsidised rate, purchased through direct payments.

How can I access this?

A parent/carer or professional working with the child can make a referral via the Southampton JIGSAW Team, with the consent of the child’s parent. If eligible, an assessment of needs will be carried out by a social worker. This assessment will consider the impact of the child’s disability on them and their parent/carer and siblings. This could result in an assessed need for additional support or respite.

Telephone: 023 8091 5702