Short Breaks for Children and Young People

Support services for young people with complex additional support needs and their families in the Shetland Isles.

What does ‘Short Breaks’ mean and who gets them?

Often families who have children with complex additional support needs living with them need some extra help so that they can manage by themselves the rest of the time. Short Breaks for children and young people are designed to provide that extra help.

Short Breaks is the name we give to services that used to be known as ‘respite’.  The Scottish Office issued guidelines for Short Breaks in 2008, you can see these online at www.scotland.gov.uk

Sometimes short breaks are in one of our two houses.  These are Laburnum House or Haldane Burgess Crescent; you can find more information about them just by clicking on the names. If you come to one of these houses you might visit for a few hours, or you might stay for a night or more in your own bedroom.  We will talk to you and your family to help you decide what is best for you.

Some young people who get Short Breaks support do not come to either of these houses.  We might find someone to help you to join in with a club, a sport or another activity.  You might need someone to help you in your own home.  Sometimes you and your family might need some support to enjoy a holiday, either together or separately.   All these types of Short Breaks are referred to as Outreach.

What are ‘complex additional support needs’?

Children and young people with complex additional support needs may have a physical disability, a learning disability, a sensory impairment, have ADHD or be on the autistic spectrum.  They may have some other support need that we have not listed. 

Often they will be receiving support in school from specialist staff, they may attend an additional support unit (although you may be too young for school yet, as Short Breaks can provide help for children and young people from 0-19 years of age).

The aims of Short Breaks for children and young people

The Short Breaks Service aims to provide a high standard of care to children and young people according to their specific needs and is based on person-centred planning principles.  We will continue to consult with young people and their families during the entire period they are using the service to ensure that we continue to provide the best care possible.  The safety of children and young people will always be paramount.

The support offered is intended to provide opportunities for-  

• children and young people to have experiences that are both positive and beneficial
• carers to have breaks which allow them to continue providing care and helps to alleviate carer’s stress
• children and young people to develop or increase their independence skills
• children and young people to engage with others

The service recognises that children and young people with complex additional support needs are children first and foremost. Services provided will seek to minimise the impact of any disability they may have, both on themselves and on their siblings, as required by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (section 23).

Wherever possible every effort will be made to provide services that allow children and young people to remain within their own homes and communities. We will try to make sure that you can take part in events and activities that you enjoy and that help you to make the most of your abilities.

How do we decide what sort of Short Break you will get?

A member of staff from the Short Breaks team will talk to you and your family about what you need.  They will complete an assessment, sometimes with the help of a social worker.  Together we will decide how we can best help you.

Before your Short Breaks start we will give you and your family a chance to look around the building you may be coming to and meet the staff who work there.  You might like to have several visits with your family before you feel ready to start your Short Breaks.

At the early stages of being introduced to your service you will be told which member of staff is your ‘key-worker’ (there may be more than one).  Your key-worker will work closely with you and your family to prepare a ‘care plan’ that respects your needs and wishes.  The care plan is a document that all staff can read to help them work with you in the way that is best for you.  You and your family can read, or have read to you, what we have written in your care plan.

If you are going to get Outreach support we will arrange for you to meet with your worker before outreach starts.  We want to make sure you will get along with each other.  Sometimes we will ask you to help us choose the right worker for you, this might mean helping us to recruit someone new, especially for you.

Short Breaks staff

All the Social Care Workers and Senior Social Care Workers employed in the team are required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (or another professional body such as the General Teaching Council or the Nursing and Midwifery Council). They either have achieved, or are working towards, the qualifications required for their professional registration.  Their conduct is regulated by the Scottish Social Services Council’s codes of practice for Social Service Employees (these can be viewed at www.sssc.uk.com) and by the Local Authority’s own Codes of Conduct for Employees. Information on these can be obtained by telephoning 01595 745240

All our staff are familiar with, and work to, the National Care Standards. The core principles of the National Care Standards are a commitment to – dignity, privacy, choice, safety, realising potential and equality and diversity.

The Team Leader (Manager) is a qualified social worker.  The Team Leader is supported by a Depute.
The team also includes a Residential Social Worker (qualified), and administrative support.

All staff members are supported to take part in appropriate training that helps them to maintain and improve their skills.  This training is extensive and will include training in Child Protection procedures; Safe Moving and Assisting; Basic First Aid; Elementary food Hygiene and Fire Safety amongst other specialist training that enables us to better help you.

Legislation and guidance

Short Breaks are provided in line with current guidance from the Scottish Government (issued in November 2008).

Other relevant legislation includes:

The Human Rights Act 2000
The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001
The Children (Scotland) Act 1995
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

Further information is available from us or online at www.scotland.gov.uk

You can also download a copy (or request a copy) of our leaflet.

More information can be obtained by contacting us:

Laburnum House                                 telephone no. 01595 745240

37 Haldane Burgess Crescent              telephone no. 01595 695153

Team Leader (Andy Thornton)               telephone no. 01595 745242 Email: andy.thornton@shetland.gov.uk.

Depute Team Leader (Stephanie Bain)   telephone no. 01595 745246 Email: stephanie.bain@shetland.gov.uk   

Residential Social Worker (Heather Mathieson)  telephone no. 01595 745243 Email heather.mathieson@shetland.gov.uk

Outreach Senior / Holiday club (Roberto Getto & Eileen Mair) telephone no. 01595 743895         
Email: roberto.getto@shetland.gov.uk ;                        eileen.mair@shetland.gov.uk