Short Breaks

We all need a break from time to time. Especially if you are a carer. You may need a few hours to keep an appointment or catch up with friends and family. Or you may need a few days’ break to make some time for yourself or have a change of scenery. Short Breaks provide care for a person with a disability or long term illness to give the carer time out from caring.

Where can short breaks take place?

The breaks can be provided in:

• your home
• a residential home that offers short term care
• a nursing home with qualified medical staff available.

Who can have a Short Term Break?

A social worker or care manager identifies the needs of the carer and the person they care for. They record the needs in the care plan which sets out the services you receive. We send you a copy of the care plan.

Who organises Short Term Breaks?

Our Community Care Brokerage Service can organise the breaks. We find a care agency or home that meets the needs of the cared for person and arrange a booking.

Alternatively, you may prefer to arrange a break yourself and pay with Direct Payments. These are money we give you to arrange your own services.

Is there a charge?

If we arrange services to meet your needs we look at your financial situation to work out whether you are able to pay the charges and, if so, how much.

Funding your stay in a care home

Social care is not free to everyone. You may be eligible for help toward the cost. This depends on your income, savings and capital assets. You can find more by reading our information on paying for care in a care home| and paying for your own care in a residential or nursing home|