Specialist short break services for children and young people with a social worker.
Specialist short breaks include family based and residential services for disabled children and young people ages 5 to 18.
Family based short breaks
Family based short breaks offer carers 1 or 2 night breaks over 1 to 2 weekends a month. They're dependent on when foster carers are available and the child or young person's needs.
Our carers and their homes are assessed and they receive additional training to care for disabled children and young people. They work with an occupational therapist to match the child or young person with the right home.
Children and young people with complex health needs can be matched with a carer who has an accessible home and are trained in medical procedures.
Residential short breaks
Residential short breaks offer regular overnight stays to disabled children and young people ages 8 to 18.
We have 2 residential children's homes with 5 beds each. They are accessible and equipped with indoor and outdoor sensory play equipment. The homes are:
- The Bush in Hengrove
- Belbrook in Lawrence Weston
The homes support children and young people to:
- develop their independence
- try new activities
- make friends
Belbrook also has nurses to support children and young people with complex health needs.
How to get a specialist short break
Specialist short break services can be accessed through the child or young person's social worker, when they do a child in need assessment. The assessment is reviewed by a panel of professionals from education, health and social care. The panel will either:
- agree on the type of specialist short break service required
- ask the social worker for further information, to review at the next panel
When the specialist short break service has been agreed, the short breaks team will look at the availability in both fostering and residential services.
