Becoming a short breaks carer of children with disabilities
If you are interested in becoming involved in working with children and young people with disabilities, but do not have sufficient time to do this on a full time fostering basis, you may wish to consider becoming a short breaks carer, domiciliary carer or scheme worker. Services for Children with Disabilities is looking to recruit carers who can look after a child or young person with a disability on a regular basis.
This service is for children and young people who are not 'looked after' – in care – but is to help and assist families who have a child or young person with a disability by giving them a break on a regular basis. Short break carers are usually linked to the same child/young person and their family, and provide care on a regular basis, perhaps for a day a week, a weekend a month or during school holidays. Domiciliary carers go into the child’s home offering support to their family with care, meals, play and activities, and scheme workers are involved in setting up and running the activity schemes on Saturdays and during holidays.
Here is an example of child requiring short break care.
Reuben
Reuben is five years old. He lives at home with his mother and two sisters. He has a severe physical and learning disability, requiring assistance with all his care needs, including feeding, washing, toileting and play. Reuben enjoys outings to the park and being with other children.
Due to his extra care needs and time required to manage these, his mother is looking for support. A short break with another family will enable her to spend more time with her other children and share the care of Reuben.
If you are interested in finding out more about working with children with disabilities in any of these schemes you can contact the Duty Officer in the Resource Team on the number given below.
Alternatively you may complete and return the Short Break Carers form below.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Children with Disabilities
- Telephone
- 020 8760 5768 x63747
- Fax
- 020 8407 1381
- Address
- FR 3rd Floor
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 2BA
