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Enabled guideProvider servicesChildren with a Disability Team - July 2011cwdtduty@kirklees.gov.uk
Kirklees can offer support for disabled children and their families through various services, from youth clubs to home adaptations.
We can divide these services into short break (respite) care, long-term care, financial services and equipment provision. Service provision depends on the needs of your child, as identified in their assessments. Some services will be allocated by the Directorate for Children & Young People, but you can also request services by contacting your social worker. The following list of services is not exhaustive. Other support services are available through Children With a Disability Team, schools and your NHS Primary Care Trust. We can tailor some services to the needs of you and your child.
Sometimes families who have children with disabilities, or health conditions, benefit from having a short break. Taking a break from caring for your
child is not an admission of failure or a way of saying you don't care. Without an occasional break you are likely to become completely exhausted or
even unwell. Your child can also benefit from the change of scene, the break from you, contact with other people and new experiences. Short break care
promotes independence and teaches valuable life skills such as cooking. It will also make your life easier if ever you have to leave your child with
someone, if they are used to this happening occasionally.
Many people manage to take breaks from caring by asking other members of the family, friends or neighbours to take charge occasionally. However, you may find you need a more formal arrangement that does not depend on other people being available. Your child's social worker may be able to arrange short break care or you may be able to arrange and pay for it through a voluntary or private organisation. We encourage parents and carers to be involved in making decisions about their child's care when they use these services.
YPAT runs non-residential social, leisure short break activities for disabled children and young people aged 5 to 18 years in Kirklees.
Cliffe House is not a residential care home but it can provide non-residential facilities for day visits and some residential short breaks to support
disabled people of all ages.
The Sport 4 U! activities aim to provide good fun, better health and social skills for disabled young people aged 8 to 18. The cost is only £5 a
session.
Activities include: basketball, football, netball, running, javelin, 10 pin bowling, discus and fun games for everyone!
This is a scheme which provides short-term, home based emergency cover to give support in a crisis or emergency situation. The aim is to reassure the
carer that should anything occur which stops them from being able to provide a service at short notice then alternative arrangements are already in
place for care to continue. Wherever possible this will be in the cared for person's home. The emergency care will cover the period or provide
sufficient time to make alternative arrangements. In the case of a parent who is temporarily unable to look after their disabled child, the service may
be used to provide alternative care for other children in the family during a crisis, in such circumstances. The arrangements will aim to ensure that
the children remain together.
Safer manual handling is important for carers and staff working with children and young people with disabilities to ensure the safety of the young
people and the people who care for them. This advice can be to look at methods to facilitate movement and encourage their independence using safer
handling techniques, but also it may be to look at manual handling equipment, e.g. hoists and slings to maintain the safety of all involved. For more
information contact the Manual Handling Adviser:
This is a scheme that provides short breaks for disabled children. Families who have been specially trained and approved as respite foster carers look
after a child in the carers' home, following a regular agreement.
The children who use the short breaks family placements service range from birth to 18 years. Carers come from various backgrounds and cultures. All will have different qualities and experiences to offer a child. All carers are carefully selected following a foster carers' assessment, and receive regular training and continuing support.
Local authorities are required to provide short breaks for families with disabled children age from 0 to 18 and publish a short breaks statement so families know what services are available in their area, the eligibility criteria for these services and how the range of services is designed to meet family’s needs.
Kirklees can offer residential care to children and young people who have been assessed as needing it. Kirklees provides residential services through
three bases: Orchard View in Mirfield, Elm Grove in Heckmondwike and Cliffe House in Shepley.
These services house up to eight young people at a time in modern, purpose-built homes. The buildings are fully equipped with electronic hoist tracking, height-adjustable beds, indoor and outdoor communal areas and cooking facilities. Young people have their own bedrooms for privacy and comfort during their stay. Orchard View, Elm Grove and Cliffe House have dedicated staff teams with a wide range of different skills, training and backgrounds. The staff has up-to-date criminal record bureau (CRB) checks and are committed to working with children. Staffing levels depend upon the needs of the young people. At each home, young people have their own key workers: named staff members with specific responsibilities for overseeing individual children's care needs. Key workers also visit the parents or carers and ensure that enough information is shared within the staff team to provide the best care for the young person. Transport is organised to and from the young person's school and an escort is provided if needed. We encourage parents and carers to be involved in deciding about their child's care when they use these services. 
Orchard View
Orchard View is a residential short break (or respite) service for young disabled people aged 7 to 17 years, though not all young people choose to stay overnight. 
Elm Grove
Elm Grove is a residential children's home which offers medium to long-term placements for young disabled people aged 9 to 17 years. 
Cliffe House - Residential short breaks (external site)
Cliffe House can provide some residential short breaks to support disabled children and young people who wish to make use of its accessible facilities.
A main contact for advice and help will be your social worker or community care officer from the Children with a Disability Team.
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