Types of Short Break Care

There are three types of short break:

Short breaks for disabled children

These breaks provide support to a family with children with disabilities or special needs.

Most disabled children using the scheme attend special schools so the scheme gives them the chance to socialise and develop friendships with other children.

Short breaks for families and children in need

These breaks provide 'time out' for a child’s family, perhaps during a time of crisis.

Here the scheme links families with short break carers who offer planned, time-limited, short breaks to children and young people to give parents and carers space to explore solutions to their problems.

Relief or support care

The breaks help support other foster families.

Occasionally a carer needs time to devote to a particular family issue. Sometimes foster carers have a holiday planned and due to specific arrangements for the child in their care are unable to take their foster child with them.