Short Breaks

The Short Break Panel meets monthly and is chaired by the Operational Lead for the Children's Disability Team.

The Panel is specifically for children and young people who require consideration for Targeted and Specialist Short Breaks. The panel aims to ensure equity and transparency in the allocation of resources to children/young people and their families. Those in the greatest need will receive the highest allocation of resources. The Panel ensures that services are needs led and that the provision is routinely monitored and reviewed. The Panel is open to all Social Care, Education and Health professionals.

Following completion of a child and family assessment/early help assessment, a Professional Worker (such as a Social Worker, Early Help Worker or a School representative) presents their young person at the Short Breaks Panel, and the Panel members provide challenge and scrutiny and agree or decline the proposed short break package presented. Families will be advised of the outcome from their allocated professional following the short breaks panel. If the short breaks package is approved it will move to the next stage of the process where an agency will be identified or a direct payment will be set up to support the young person. 

 There is also a Finance Panel that sits monthly to review current packages. Where a package needs to be increased, the Professional Worker must attend the Short Breaks Panel again to present the reason and evidence why an increase is needed.

How do I book on to the panel?

To book a slot onto the Panel a professional worker needs to complete a new child and family assessment/early help assessment, to evidence the need for short breaks.  They will then need to complete a short breaks form on LCS/EHM and reassign it to the Operational Lead. This identifies the young person's needs, and provides a recommendation to the Panel as to what type of resource may be needed. The professional will be allocated a time to attend panel to present the child or young person.

Panel Members

The panel is made up of representatives from the following teams and organisations:

• Bradbury House
• Broad Park House
• Commissioning
• Development Officer for Community Short Breaks
• Education
• Finance
• Health
• Independent Living Team
• Operational Lead for the Children's Disability Team
• The Birches