Challenging cuts to short break services
In 2015/16 many local authorities are likely to cut funding to short break services. We have developed a legal resource to help parent carers challenge cuts to provision in their area.
Download the legal resource here
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Short Breaks
During the 2006 Parliamentary hearings on services for disabled children, parents told parliamentarians that 'the lack of short breaks was the biggest single cause of unhappiness with service provision'.
Short breaks (also known as respite) provide opportunities for disabled children and young people to spend time away from their primary carers. These include day, evening, overnight or weekend activities and take place in the child's own home, the home of an approved carer, a residential or community setting.
Short breaks and the law
In January 2011, Government introduced regulations that put a duty on local authorities to provide short breaks services in their local area. The 'Short Breaks Duty' came into effect on 1 April 2011. One of the requirements on local authorities under this duty is to produce a short breaks services statement with details of local short breaks provision.
Find out more about the Short Break Duty and EDCM's work monitoring its impact.
The 2015/16 financial year is likely to see cuts to short break services for disabled children. EDCM has developed a legal resource for parent carers, 'Challenging cuts to short break services'.
Short break funding
Over the past few years we have seen unprecedented amounts of funding for short breaks. This included a pledge of £800 million to be delivered between 2011/12 and 2014/15 through the Early Intervention Grant. This followed the success of the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.