Short break carer Judi is a lifeline for Kate who's 11 year old son Archie has complex medical needs. You could help other local families by committing just a few nights a month.

Sometimes families with a disabled child need a break themselves.

As a short break carer you would care for a disabled child in your home a few nights a month, and sometimes longer in school holidays, if this is something that fits in with your family and circumstances.

The short break scheme gives disabled children and young people new, enjoyable and fun experience with a different family.

It provides a break for the parents of the disabled child from their ongoing caring responsibilities and siblings also benefit from spending individual time with their parents.

It's a rewarding experience for the carers who often form friendship with the family they support.

All too often people doubt their ability to become a short break carer because they have limited or no experience of disabilities.

The majority of the children and young people that need your help in Kirklees have less complex medical needs and are more likely to have a learning disability or low level physical disability.

Despite having a disability, more than anything, these special children need your time to play with them, take them out and about in the community, to help them make new friends and generally to give them and their families a much needed break.

There is no such thing as a typical short break carer. You don’t have to have had previous experience of looking after a child with disabilities as full training will be given.

You could be a short break carer whether you're:

• single - male or female, married, living as a couple, divorced or widowed
• with or without children
• of any religious faith or none
• of any cultural background
• homeowners or renting
• employed, retired or on benefits
• with or without childcare experience
• with or without qualifications

We need people from all communities and backgrounds in Kirklees to consider short break care.

To make a great short break carer all you need is:

• A positive attitude
• Motivation and energy to care for a disabled child
• Patience and commitment
• A spare bedroom
• Experience of working with children
• Knowledge of disabilities (though not essential as full training will be given)
• Confidence to cope with challenges
• Willingness to engage in training and personal development

You will also need to be:

• Welcoming
• Warm and nurturing
• Adaptable
• Organised and reliable
• Available on a regular basis, routinely

Could you help a family with a disabled child?

If so, we really want to hear from you, call the team now on 0800 389 0086 or fill in the enquiry form and we’ll get in touch with you.

Even if you just want more information for now, get in touch and we’ll tell you more about our short break care scheme. There’s no obligation to proceed, but if you are interested we’ll ask you to complete and return a registration of interest form, and from there the steps to becoming a short break carer are:

1. Complete and return the registration of interest form
2. A member of the team will visit you at home to talk to you about short breaks in more depth
3. If we agree to proceed, we’ll invite you to attend the ‘skills to foster’ training (the training for short break carers is the same as our foster carers go through)
4. Complete and submit your short break application form to start your formal assessment
5. Your application will be considered at panel and if approved you’ll be matched with a family to support.

This process takes around four months from start to finish.

Approved short break carers are governed by foster care regulations, but undertake a very different role to foster carers. The children you’ll care for are still living with their birth family, they are not Looked After Children in care under the Local Authority.

There’s lots of support available

You will have a Family Placement Link Worker who will support you through the assessment and approval process. Once you’re approved and a suitable match has been made, they will visit you regularly to talk about any issues raised by caring for a disabled child.

We will be careful in matching a child with your family.

You will also have the opportunity to join the ‘Kirklees Fostering Network’. Where you’ll have carers at hand to discuss issues 24/7, you can attend meetings with other short break carers, and just have the opportunity to talk and network with people that are doing the same important job as you.

We’ll give you all the training you need

As an approved short break carer there will be some essential courses you’ll have to undertake in the first year. These include Safe Care, Health and Hygiene and First Aid.

You’ll be given the opportunity to gain qualifications such as NVQ 3, and have access to a comprehensive training programme to help develop your understanding, knowledge and skills in caring for children with disabilities. Training can also be arranged to meet the individual needs of caring for a specific child.

As a short break carer we don’t want you to be out of pocket

We will pay you an allowance and skills payment based on the number of days of care you can provide per month.

For example, if you provided the minimum four nights a month care, you can expect an allowance and skills payment of around £120 per month. Personal development opportunities are available which would allow you to progress to higher skill levels and this would be reflected in your payments.