Short Breaks Services Statement

Dear Emily Tyrrell

 

Find attached acknowledgement for your above reference (LBBD/94769) FoI
request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

The FoI Team

 

 

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Dear Ms Tyrrell,

 

The information given for this FOI is in relation to Short Breaks only and
not respite activities.

 

1)         What evidence do you have that the statement is accessible to
families (i.e. unique visitors/ postal reach etc.)?

 

The statement is available on line at 
[1]https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploa....
It is also available to view at The Heathway Centre which is Barking and
Dagenham's Disabled Children's Resource Centre located at 512A Heathway,
Dagenham.  The number of visitors to the centre from 04.08.14 - 05.08.15
was 1,394.

 

2)         How often do you review the Short breaks statement? When was
the last time you revised it and for what reason?

 

The Short Breaks Statement is reviewed at least annually and revised when
new services become available or when there are changes to existing
services.

 

The current statement was last reviewed in April 2015 as part of the
annual review of documents in relation to the delivery of Short Break
Services.

 

3)         How many children have been refused short breaks services
because of eligibility criteria in the last twelve months? How many of
these had an assessment?

 

The Heathway centre is accessible to all families who consider that they
have a child or young person with a disability. No families were refused a
short break grant or service because of the eligibility criteria.

 

4)         How often do you consult families on the content of the short
breaks statement? When did this last happen and how many families were
involved?

 

A number of detailed consultations with Parents, Children and Young People
have taken place.

 

The first Short Breaks Statement published in 2011 was largely based on
information from previous Aiming High for Disabled Children consultations
that took place with parents, carers and children with a disability or
additional needs.

 

Initial consultation that took place during August 2011 showed that a
large number of children and their families were not aware that there are
services that they could access potentially for free within universal
settings. Reaching out to those families and raising awareness of
universal services was critical for all those involved in providing short
break services.

 

Firstcare was commissioned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Short Breaks Commissioners to provide a review that would maximise the
effectiveness of their funding of the third sector and other providers in
its delivery of Aiming High for Disabled Children Short Breaks services.

 

Its purpose was not only to support the council in ensuring that its
commissioning arrangements continue to provide best value for money but to
provide feedback to local voluntary organisations and other providers that
will assist them to develop their services and internal structures in such
as a way as to ensure a long-term sustainable future for their service
delivery in the light of the forthcoming move to Personalisation and
Direct payments. 

 

Firstcare conducted the review using a mix of research methodology. This
included: a desk review and analysis of available documentation as
provided by the client and local organisations involved in Short Breaks
service delivery; field visits to service delivery organisations; 
mini-groups with parents; discussion groups with young people; and a
web-based parental survey.

 

Commissioners have continued to meet with families to get their views on
services provided on an annual basis.

 

In April 2015 The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Short Breaks
service made a request for The Barking & Dagenham Progress Project to
carry out a consultation on our  behalf to find out what young people
would like included in the provision they are currently offered.

 

The consultation request was taken back to the Young Peoples' Development
Forum where the young people were supported in designing accessible
workshops to be taken and delivered in the youth groups of our partner
agencies, as well as Trinity Special School. These workshops were designed
to be flexible so that it could be easily altered to engage young people
with a variety of additional needs.

 

Carrying out the consultation in this way also meant that they were able
to overcome the many barriers that prevent young people with disabilities
participating in new activities. For example, the workshop was delivered
in a familiar location, with familiar staff supporting them who knew their
strengths and weaknesses, and there were no transport issues as the young
people were already at the youth club.

A total of 39 young people were engaged during this consultation.

 

The progress project has consulted with a specific group of young people
with PMLD from Trinity School during the Summer Term. We are currently
awaiting the final report.

 

Barking and Dagenham actively listen to family views on current services
and identified gaps where improvements could be made. For example in
consultation that took place at the nd of 2013 a number of issues were
raised.  Feedback was given to families and  improvements made during
2014.

 

An information Day was recently held - 28th May 2015 at Trinity School
Special School, inviting parent, carers, children and young people to find
out more about the Personal Short Breaks Grant and activities that will be
available to purchase over the summer and holiday period. We also used
this opportunity to consult with families on what type of activities they
would like to see in future.

 

5)         What evidence do you have that you deliver short breaks to
children and young people as outlined in your statement?

 

Barking and Dagenham Council aims to provide the most appropriate
resources to assist individuals who provide care for children with
disabilities, to enable them to continue to do so, or to do so more
effectively by giving them breaks from caring.

 

It is also to present opportunities for children and young people with
disabilities to be able to experience new activities, establish and build
friendships and pursue their goals.

 

Barking and Dagenham Council recognises that the needs of children and
their families change and that re-assessment of these needs may be
required.  If families would like their needs re-assessed they are asked
to contact the Lead Professional or Social Worker who will be able to
discuss this with you further.

 

By monitoring services h we can ensure the provider is meeting all of the
desired objectives. We can asses by, service user surveys and feedback,
complaints and compliments, visits and inspections by Council Officers,
Case studies which demonstrate achievement of the outcomes, ad hoc
requests for information and performance Review Meetings.

 

[2]http://www.councilfordisabledchildren.or...

 

If you need any more information, or if we can be of any further help,
please contact us.

 

If you are not satisfied with the way your request has been dealt with,
you can request a review within 40 days of our response to you,  by
e-mailing [3][Barking and Dagenham Borough Council request email], or in writing to the FOI Team, 2^nd Floor
Roycraft House, 15 Linton Road, Barking, IG11 8HE.  

 

If you are still not satisfied following the internal review, you can
complain to the Information Commissioner, details of which can be found
at: [4]https://www.ico.org.uk/

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

The FoI Team

E-mail confidentiality notice. This message is intended for the addressees
only. It may be private, confidential and may be covered by legal
professional privilege or other confidentiality requirements. If you are
not one of the intended recipients, please notify the sender immediately
on +44 0 20-8215-3000 and delete the message from all locations in your
computer network. Do not copy this email or use it for any purpose or
disclose its contents to any person:to do so maybe unlawful.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/wp-content/uploa...
2. http://www.councilfordisabledchildren.or...
3. mailto:[Barking and Dagenham Borough Council request email]
4. https://www.ico.org.uk/