The purpose of respite is to support the child’s wellbeing and development. This also offers parents and carers a break from their caring responsibilities.       

Local Authorities are required to provide services designed to provide a break to carers of disabled children, under the Children Act 1989. The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2010 (legislation.gov.uk) sets out what Local Authorities should do to meet their duties, in relation to the provision of short breaks. 

Eligibility criteria:

Please find the eligibility criteria for the Children with Disabilities Team 

This is the same as the Children with Disability team which in summary is - 

• A child with a disability aged between 0-18 years old. 

• A child has a finalised EHCP and a higher rate of additional funding or attending a specialist school, if they’re of school age and are likely to be dependent on services for life. • Has substantial and long lasting or permanent physical and/or learning disability

. • The child has a life limiting or life-threatening condition

. • There is significant impact of the caring role on family life, including parents and siblings. The CWD Short Breaks team will not routinely work with:  

• A child with a medical condition which is not permanent or severe. 

 • A child with social, emotional, and behavioural, mental health or wellbeing difficulties 

 • A child with ASD or ADHD, where there is significant impact on the child's developmental progress as a direct result of the ASD, or ADHD.  Further details outlining the eligibility criteria can be found on the Milton Keynes Local Offer page:- Eligibility criteria MKCC CWDT.pdf (mksendlocaloffer.co.uk)

If a professional wishes to make a referral or has a safeguarding concern about a young person, they would need to complete a MARF via MASH: Milton Keynes Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and the Multi-Agency Referral Form (MARF) Milton Keynes Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) | Milton Keynes City Council 

If there are no safeguarding issues and the request is purely for respite: Parent/Carers can contact The Short Breaks Team to self-refer using the following details: CWDshortbreaks@milton-keynes.gov.uk 01908 252042 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 1pm). 

 When contacting the Short Breaks Team, you will initially be asked the following information:

 • For the family’s consent for information sharing, with other agencies.

 • Child’s disability and the impact it has on them, carers, and family. • Whether they are the age to have an EHCP and the child’s status.

 • What early years provision/school/further education provision they attend

 • What support you feel is required

 • Existing support from professionals, family, and friends.

 • Contact information for the child, including next of kin and person making referral.

 • Any other relevant information. 

What happens next?

If the child/young person does not meet criteria: We will signpost to the relevant services that are available, including the Local Offer Website. 

If a child does meet criteria and there are no safeguarding concerns: The Short Break Practitioner will arrange to see the child in the family home and discuss the child’s social care needs with the family. This will include a Young Carers and Carers conversation. This will be referred to as a Short Break Assessment.

The assessment is child focused and will discuss the level of support need. Information will be based on three signs of safety questions: what’s working well, what are we worried about and what needs to happen.

There will also be a Carers Conversation to discuss the impact of the caring for the young person on parents, siblings and wider family members. The worker will ask the family about their support network, social life, employment and benefits. 

A decision will be made whether a Short Break Plan should be started or if the process is stopped at this point. The family will be informed of the outcome and recommendations from the worker. 

The plan will reflect all that was talked about in the assessment and will give time frames of when to expect the actions will be carried out. 

If the Short Breaks Plan identifies that a respite care package is needed, then this will be presented to the Children with Disabilities Resources Panel for a decision to be made. The Short Breaks Practitioner will then inform the family of the outcome and begin the process of setting the care package up. 

This could be either: via the Direct Payment route, where the families will source their own Personal Assistant or Care Agency, or via Commissioning, where the Children with Disabilities Service will find a Care Agency directly. 

The plan will be reviewed on a yearly basis to ensure that the child and family’s needs are being met. The review of the plan will usually be a face-to-face meeting.

If possible, the subsequent Short Breaks Plan review could be aligned with the Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) Annual Review or Residential review, creating an opportunity for all professionals involved together with the child and family. 

What is included in the Short Breaks Plan:

 • Clear and realistic objectives; 

• Ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child and views of the family. 

• Consideration of options, including but not limited, to Direct Payments; 

• State the nature and frequency of services,

 • Outline arrangements to review the plan. 

• Any services that are provided to the family of the disabled children

Parent Carers have a right to have an assessment of need of their own under the Children and Families Act 2014; section 97 of the Children & Families Act 2014 : 

• On the appearance of need; or 

• Where an assessment is requested by the parent. 

Where requested, then the Local Authority must assess whether that parent has needs for support and, if so, what those needs are. 

The assessment must include whether it is appropriate for the parent to provide or continue to provide care for the disabled child. This will consider the parent's needs for support, other identified needs and wishes. 

The assessment must also acknowledge:

 • The well-being of the parent carer; and 

• The need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child and any other child for whom the parent carer has parental responsibility. Following assessment, the Local Authority must then decide; 

• Whether the parent has needs for support; 

• Whether the child has need for support; 

• And if so whether those needs could be met (wholly or partly) by services under Children Act 1989, s17

At your child’s Year 9 EHCP review there will be a discussion around preparation for adulthood, which will form the initial steps of your child’s transition process as they become an adult. When your child turns 16, a referral will be made to the Adults Social Care Team.

There are regular meetings held between the Preparing for Adulthood Team and Children’s Team, who jointly ensure that Adult Social Care are aware of the young people who have been referred.

On your child’s 18th birthday, they will transition to the Adults Social Care Team, where the continuation of their needs and care package will be reviewed.

In between these years, the young person will have a Community Care Assessment to consider the support your child needs going into adulthood.

Where can I go for Short Break Vouchers?

You can find the Short Breaks Scheme and register for the vouchers here: 

Short Breaks | Milton Keynes City Council 

You can contact MKshortbreaks@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Where can I get support for housing?

We are not able to influence decisions that Milton Keynes City Council housing department may have made. 

Please find the following : Housing | Milton Keynes City Council 

You can also gain advice via Shelter Charity: Shelter - The housing and homelessness charity - Shelter England

Who can help me with applications and form filling?

You can be supported to fill in forms by:

 Milton Keynes Centre Integrated Living  Home - Milton Keynes Centre for Integrated Living

Jo’s Hope Jo's Hope | Breast Cancer Charity in Milton Keynes 

01908 942193

Who can support me with my child’s school placement or schooling?

You can contact the SEND Team to discuss any placement or EHCP worries: SENDSUPPORT@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can contact MKSENDIAS for independent advice and support: SEND Information, Advice & Support Service | MK SENDIAS

Advice Line: 01908 254518 from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (answer phone facility).

Email: contact@mksendias.org.uk 

Website: www.mksendias.org.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MKSENDIAS 

Where can I find Disability Grants?

You can access different disability grants via the following: Disability Grants - Charitable Funding for the Disabled

Where can I go for adaptations and Occupational therapy support? 

You can contact Milton Keynes Children and Young people Occupational Therapy Team on the following: Milton Keynes Children and Young People's Occupational Therapy Team :: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address:
Child Development Centre
Standing Way
Milton Keynes
MK6 5NG
United Kingdom

Telephone:
01908724600 (option 3)

Email:
mk.paed.ot@nhs.net

Will I be allocated a worker?

You will not be allocated a Short Break Practitioner but you can contact any member of the team via our duty desk: 01908 252042, open between 9:30am-1pm Monday-Friday. Our email is open all day Monday-Friday: cwdshortbreaks@milton-keynes.gov.uk 

If you need to report a safeguarding concern please call MASH on: 01908 253169 or 01908 253170

After 5pm, you can contact Emergency Social Work Team: 01908 265545 

Do you provide childcare?

Our team does not provide childcare. 

How often is my care package reviewed?

Your care package will be reviewed annually. Unless you contact us to let us know of a significant change in need or family circumstance which requires an early review/discussion.

It is important that your review is attended as it allows for any updates and concerns to be shared. If you do not engage in this then we will consider reevaluating the need for respite. 

How long will my child stay open to the Short Breaks Team?

Whilst receiving a Short Break service and/or up until the age of 18.

What can I spend my direct payment on?

The funds provided are purely to cover the costs of your assessed social care needs that have been agreed by the Short Breaks Team. All expenses will need to be accounted for and evidenced, whereby the team may request to audit how the funds have been used. Please do not spend your direct payment money on anything outside of your agreed care package as you run the risk of your Direct Payment being terminated.

Where can I find Care Agencies or a Personal Assistant?

You can find Care Agencies via Care Quality Commission CQC: Care Quality Commission

There is Personal Assistant register: Connection Support PA Register