Halton Short Breaks
Halton Max Card Scheme information
Max Card application
NEW Short Breaks Service Parent/Carers Survey
We would like to know your views: what has worked well, what we can improve, what you like about the service and what you think is missing?
Please complete the survey to let us know your thoughts
What are Short Breaks?
Local Authorities have a duty to provide short breaks for carers of disabled children to enable them to continue to care for their disabled child and to participate in everyday activities.
These services are available in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays:
- Day time care in the homes of disabled children or elsewhere;
- Overnight care in the homes of disabled children or elsewhere;
- Educational or recreational activities for disabled children outside their homes.
Who is eligible for Short Breaks?
Children and young people aged 0–18 years whose daily lives are substantially affected by one or more of the following diagnosed conditions:
- A hearing impairment;
- A visual impairment;
- A learning disability;
- A physical disability;
- A chronic/life threatening physical illness;
- A communication disorder (including autism);
- A consciousness disorder (e.g. epilepsy);
- A mental health condition.
Their condition should usually be expected to last for more than 12 months and have a substantial effect upon the child in more than one of the following areas:
- Physical ability;
- Communication and understanding;
- Awareness of risk and danger;
- Behaviour;
- Independence.
We understand that children and young people may also be disadvantaged because of other factors, such as their environment; other people’s attitudes; poverty and social exclusion. However, these factors alone do not entitle them to be considered for Short Breaks services.
Each child and family will have different needs and the impact of the child’s disability needs to be considered against what would usually be expected for any child of the same age. Their family’s circumstances will also be different and so it is important to assess how their situation impacts upon their ability to lead an ordinary life within the community.
For more information please see these below:
Short Breaks Documents
- NEW Halton Short Breaks Statement
- NEW Short Breaks Services Guide
- NEW DCS Referral checklist for professionals
- NEW Factsheet for parent/carers
- NEW Factsheet for professionals
- NEW Parent Carers Needs Assessment Guidance
- NEW Parent Carer Referral Form (Word)
- NEW Parent Carers Needs Assessment Form (Word)
- Short Breaks Assessment Pathway
- NEW Short Breaks and Personal Budgets Guidance
- Short Breaks Allocation Document Guide
- Short Breaks Support Allocation Document
- Young Person’s Profile 0-12yrs
- Young Person’s Profile 13-17yrs
Short Breaks Referral via iCART
iCART is the integrated front door to children and families’ services it includes multi-agency staff from social care, early intervention, education, health and Police.
How to request Short Breaks?
Please see the referral process and information here on the Council’s iCART page
Short Breaks Available
Details can be found via the following:
- Short Breaks Service Guide
- Leisure section for the latest activity flyers
- Short Breaks Service Newsletters – see the boxes at the bottom of this page
Examples and Feedback from Short Breaks Service Family Events
Information about Personal Budgets, Direct Payments and Personal Assistants (PAs)
Personal Budgets and Direct Payments
Short Breaks Personal Budget
Wheelchair Personal Budget
Education Personal Budget
- Personal Budgets Policy
- Personal Budgets Summary for Parents and Young People
- Personal Budgets Easy Read Guide
What is a Personal Assistant (PA)?
A personal assistant works directly with one or more individuals, to support them with various aspects of their daily life so that they can live it in a way they choose. They’re usually employed directly by a person who needs care and support, and who manages and pays for this through a personal budget or with their own money. This person is their employer (and are often referred to as an ‘individual employer’). They can also be employed by a family member or representative, when the person they’re supporting doesn’t have the physical or mental capacity to be the employer. However, a personal assistant always works directly with the individual they’re supporting. It’s most likely that this should be through an employed arrangement, rather than being self-employed.
As a personal assistant you’re likely to be involved in many aspects of your employer’s life, and may be asked to provide support in the home, at leisure or at work. The opportunity to focus directly on the needs of an individual, and the diversity of the role, is what often attracts people to this type of work.
More information about Personal Budgets can be found on the Education, Health and Care Plan section
Positive Future Consultancy (PFC)
Positive Future Consultancy (PFC) is an organisation with many years experience working with children and adults with learning difficulties, disabilities and barriers to life and learning.
How can we help you to recruit a PA?
PFC will endeavour to support families through the sometimes very difficult process of recruiting and appointing the right PA for each family. Together with Halton Borough Council, the Disabled Children’s Service and the Direct Payments Team we aim to make the process as seamless as possible.
PFC will recruit, pre-interview, acquire DBS checks and train PA’s to a standard of readiness to be introduced to families who are looking for the right PA for them. We will have a bank of PA’s to choose from, enabling families to make a decision based on their needs and requirements. PFC will strive to enable PA’s to reach a set standard providing them with the tools they need to carry out the role of a PA.
PFC will provide the PA’s with access to:
- training and support including:
- Health and Safety
- Manual Handling
- Equal Ops
- First Aid
- information, advice and guidance
- help in matching them to the right family.
PFC will assist families to establish a chosen family member as a PA with all the checks, training and support as an independent PA.