In 2008 Wigan Council received significant investment to develop and transform short breaks under the banner of Aiming High for Disabled Children.
Although the Aiming High programme has now ceased, the Government remain committed to short breaks and as such have introduced a Short Break Duty which requires local authorities to provide services designed to give parents and carers a break from their caring role.
Definition of Short Breaks
Short breaks are intended to give primary carers of children and young people with disabilities a break from their caring responsibilities. Short breaks should equally provide children and young people with disabilities opportunities to have fun, make friends and develop skills. Short breaks come in a variety of formats and each one can last from just a few hours to a few days, depending on the type of provision and the needs of the child and their family.
Short breaks can occur during the day, during the evening, overnight and at the weekend and can take place in the child’s own home, the home of an approved carer, a residential or community setting. Short breaks should be used routinely to help parents and carers to maintain and improve the quality of care they naturally wish to provide and should not just be used as a crisis intervention.
Short Breaks Duty
Paragraph 6(1) (c) of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to provide services designed to give breaks for carers of disabled children.
Regulations relating to this duty, which came into force on 1 April 2011, require each local authority to produce a Short Breaks Services Statement so that families know what services are available and how the range of services is designed to meet the needs of families with disabled children in their area.
Accessible Places
Wigan Council received significant capital funding as part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme (2009 to 2011). In consultation with parents and carers, a need was identified for appropriate toileting facilities and disability specific play equipment across the boroughs parks to make them more accessible. The booklet below details the investments made and the location of these facilities.
