Short Breaks for Children and Young People with Disabilities in Swindon
Aiming High
The Aiming High Short Breaks Team provides opportunities for children and young people (up to their 18th birthday) living in the Borough of Swindon to enjoy a range of social and leisure activities. The team also supports parents and carers by allowing them to have a break from their caring responsibilities.
Aiming High Short Breaks
Inclusion and Outreach Workers from the Aiming High Team work with families to identify the activities that would be most suitable for them, which might include:
- Information and advice about the range of activities available
- Provision of specific activities for children with disabilities
- Extra support to access mainstream activities that are available to all children e.g. a support worker. Extra support is provided to enable the child to access the activity; it doesn't cover the cot of the activity itself.
- The team also works with other local organisations to develop a range of inclusive services to ensure that families have flexibilirt and choice
How to Access the Short Break Services Through Aiming High
If you require support to enable your child/young person to access a social activity, or you feel you would like a break from caring, please contact the Aiming High team:
On receipt of your enquiry, an Inclusion and Outreach worker will contact you within 5 working days to discuss your situation and, if appropriate, will arrange to visit you. They will then complete a Short Breaks’ Questionnaire with you, which will provide you with an informal opportunity to discuss your needs in more details and look at the type of short breaks or activities that would be most suitable.
Guideline Levels of Support Available Through Aiming High
| |
Information & Advice? |
Type of Support Available |
Guideline Level of Support |
| Children who can access mainsteam activities/open access disability groups |
Yes |
Information, advice and signposting |
- |
| Children who can access mainstream activities / open access disability groups with support |
Yes |
Inclusion - arranged by Aiming High or Direct Payment |
Up to 52 hours
(1hr per week) |
| Children who are unable to access mainstream activities / open access disability groups even with support |
Yes |
Specialist Groups, 1-to-1 Support or Direct Payment |
Max 104 hours per year
(2hrs per week) |
| If the above levels are insufficient and the child/family need higher level of support |
Yes |
Early Help or statutory assessment required to meet |
Determined by early Help or statutory assessment |
Aiming High recognises that there will be exceptional circumstances and each case is dealt with on an individual basis.
Short Breaks Criteria
How to Access Short Break Services through Statutory Assessment (Social Care)
Short breaks provided through the Aiming High Short Breaks Team are at a preventative level and do not require a statutory assessment. If the preventative levels of support available through the Aiming High Team are insufficient and the child/family need higher levels of support, a referral should be made for the families' needs to be assessed through Swindon's assessment process. If you think you need additional support or you require your needs to be assessed through Swindon’s assessment process, please contact Family Contact Point:
Useful Links
Swindon Parents and Carers Group: Working together to develop services for disabled children and young adults
Swindon Parents and Carers Group
Swindon Parent Partnership: A confidential service for parents and carers of children with special education needs
Swindon Parent Partnership
Respite
Family Contact Point