Care and support
Where to look for help and advice
Short Breaks / Respite Care
Short Breaks or Respite Care is offered to parents and children after they have been assessed by a social worker. The amount of respite will be decided on the basis of the child's needs by the disability teams. This provision provides much needed support for the family by giving parents a break from their caring role and the young person to have experiences outside of their home setting. It is offered through a range of residential establishments or through shared care.
You may also wish to consider:
Residential
Children can access both overnight care and day care in residential settings.North Hertfordshire
North Hertfordshire Respite Unit – This new resource is a four bed unit for children and young people 5 – 19 years, who have a severe learning disability and/or a physical disability. It also has capacity to take children and young people with complex health needs. It opens during school holidays and weekends.
Unit Manager: Sandra Fogarty
South Hertfordshire
South West Respite Unit – This unit, based in Abbots Langley is run by National Children’s Home (NCH), Action for Children. It is a 3 bed unit, which caters in the main for children and young people, up to the age of 19 years, who have a severe learning disability.
Unit Manager: Glenna Tomlin
East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire Respite Unit – This unit is based in Welwyn Garden City and run by the Jubilee Care Trust. It is a 5 bed unit for children and young people up to the age of 19 with a range of disabilities.
Unit Manager: Nicola Shapton
West Hertfordshire
West Hertfordshire Respite Unit – This unit caters for children and young people up to the age of 19 years who have a range of disabilities.
Unit Manager: Jacqui Thorne
There is also a 3 bed unit run by Harpenden Mencap and caters for children with learning and/or physical disabilities.
Unit Manager: Karen Stafford.
Shared Care
Shared care provides short breaks for the child from a few hours to a few days a month.Shared carers are recruited, trained and assessed by supervising social workers. On going support is also provided by the social workers once the carers have been approved by an independent panel.
Children are referred by thier local disability team following an assessment of need.
CSF4380 - Short Breaks (respite care) : 208KB
Information for parents and carers, May 2006.
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