Short breaks - Southern Health and Social Care Trust

The short breaks service was established to provide short breaks, within a family setting, for children & young people with disabilities, were it has been assessed that their parents/carers require a break from their caring responsibilities. Short breaks work around the carer's availability - all we ask is that carers can provide a minimum of one overnight per month of care in their own home. Our carers go through the same assessment process as a foster carer and are approved at a fostering panel to provide short breaks for children with disabilities. Our current short break carers are people from a variety of backgrounds who are compassionate, caring & willing to open their homes to provide short breaks to children and young people with a disability. Our current waiting list consists of children who urgently require short breaks but we do not have enough carers to meet this need. To become a short breaks carer you do not need any specific skills or qualifications just the willingness to make a positive difference to a child’s life. The Trust will provide ongoing support and specific training, based on the needs of the child alongside the allocation of a dedicated link worker and the opportunity to avail of the support through a Carers Support Group. We urgently require short break carers and offer allowances, training and dedicated support throughout your journey as a carer.