NB: Families and Carers who manage their own direct payments do not require referral. Contact us directly to enquire about sessions.
Some of our programs are directly accessible to families and carers, others are accessed by referral. Referral accessed services are funded by the local authority. Seeking approval for a funded place can be daunting but we’re here to help. Start by following these three steps.
Step 1: Make an enquiry
You can enquire about our services by email or telephone. We’ll ask you to complete a short form with details about your young person. Where appropriate, we’ll then invite the family or responsible adult to visit one of our sites with them.
Step 2: Feedback and Approval
After your visit, we’ll contact the professional supporting your family to confirm whether one of our groups is suitable for your young person.
They will typically apply to the Local Authority Short Breaks Panel for approval on your behalf.
*Your supporting professional could be a social worker, school SENCO or family support worker. If you don’t have professional support for your young person, contact your local authority Children’s Disability Team.
Step 3: Getting Started
Once we receive formal approval from the Short Breaks Panel, we’ll ask you to complete our registration form and add your young person to our waiting list.
While you wait for a space, we’ll discuss any medical or behavioural needs and ensure our staff have the appropriate training to support your young person.
When a space becomes available, we’ll notify the Short Breaks Panel and arrange a start date.