Short breaks are available to families to provide a break from caring for a disabled child and for the child to have a break from their carers.
Short breaks are matched to meet the child's needs, interests and preferences and aim to provide:
- extra social opportunities for the child;
- a break for the parents and child; or
- time for parents to spend with other children in the family.
See our short breaks statement (pdf / 267 KB) to find out who can access a short break, what is available at different levels of need and how this can be accessed.
There are three different types of short breaks available:
Universal support
This is the support available to everyone through universal settings, such as children's centres, youth centres, libraries, leisure centres and social activities. The majority of children who require services will receive them through such resources. Information on local services is available from your local inclusion officer.
Additional support
Some disabled children and young people with less complex needs will require additional support to access some universal services. Additional support is often short-term assistance to help access mainstream services such as youth groups, scouts, guides and sports clubs. This might include advice or training for providers or short-term additional support to enhance confidence and skills, if necessary.
For more information on additional support, please contact your local inclusion officer.
Specialist support
This is for children with more complex needs or challenging behaviour. We assess children and their families to ensure that their short breaks needs are fully understood and to tailor a service according to their need in an appropriate setting.
The types of short break available include:
- day care;
- overnight stays;
- weekend stays (often once a month);
- occasional longer stays;
- befriending; and
- leisure and social activities.
The short breaks will be designed around the child and family's specific needs and will be age appropriate. Short breaks provision will be reviewed periodically (but not more than once a year) to ensure that they remain suitable and are providing the support required. Short breaks for older children may include skills for adulthood, including social skills or promoting independence, where appropriate.
For more information, see the disabled children and young people section.
Frequently asked questions
The short breaks scheme for 2018 is now open and will close on 11 May 2018.
To apply, please complete this self-assessment form (doc / 208 KB) and return it, along with evidence of your child’s diagnosis and level of need, to shortbreaks@northyorks.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can post it to:
Customer Resolution Centre (short breaks grant)
North Yorkshire County Council
County Hall
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 8AD
A panel will sit on 23 May to look at applications and award the grants.
Awards are for up to £500 per child (depending on need). However please note that, due to the high number of applications last year, the maximum grant awarded was £400.
A second round of applications will only run in the autumn if there are sufficient funds remaining.
If you would like more information about the short breaks scheme, please contact your local area prevention manager:
| District | Area prevention manager | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Craven | Caroline Porter | 01609 532412 |
| Ripon and rural Harrogate | Jon Coates | 01609 532323 |
| Harrogate town and Knaresborough | Rachel Yeadon | 01609 533446 |
| Richmondshire | Vanessa Handley | 01609 533682 |
| Hambleton | Sharon Britton | 01609 536206 |
| Selby town | Pat Scully | 01609 532385 |
| Tadcaster and rural Selby | David Fincham | 01609 534022 |
| Whitby and the moors | Diane Leith | 01609 532479 |
| Ryedale | Simon Osman | 01609 536009 |
| Scarborough town | Liz White | 01609 533139 |
| Scarborough south and Filey | Simone Wilkinson | 01609 532927 |