BHCC - Short Breaks for Children and Young People with SEND

We would like you to support us at this early stage of service development by completing the online survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/5INMRH/

We would be grateful if you could send responses through to us by Monday 18th September 2023, we appreciate that this is a tight turnaround, and will of course be able to consider any responses after this time if it is likely that you need more time to consider/reply.

Background Brighton & Hove City Council is developing a commissioning strategy for short breaks for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It will incorporate data the council holds on numbers accessing services, as well as feedback from the parent/carer community (PaCC) and the feedback which informed the SEND Strategy (2021-2026).

A short break is deemed to be a fun and enriching activity for children and young people with SEND and offers their families a chance to rest from caring duties, spend time with siblings and have the opportunity to work. The aim is to create an approach that will increase the availability of good quality and relevant services, resulting in good outcomes for the children and young people. As a result of parent/carer and young people feedback, including co-production workshops, the gaps in the current provision will then need to be addressed.

The council is not looking for one provider to cover all children and families. The short breaks programme will be a collective offer between numerous providers and will include providers working in partnership. Awarding funding to a range of providers will allow the short breaks programme to support more families, SEND needs, age ranges, and diversify activity across the city of Brighton & Hove.

Families have requested variety; therefore, the council will be looking at organisations that offer the following sessions: • play schemes • sport and multi-sport clubs, including football, martial arts, boxing, kayaking, tennis, cricket, boccia, gymnastics, climbing, etc. • art and performance arts, including art and craft clubs, drama, music, dance, Lego • youth specific clubs, including young people up to the age of 25 • sensory play and therapeutic sessions, including music therapy • swimming, including supported sessions or drop in quiet sessions • sessions for young women, LGBTQIA+, BAME, Black and Brown unity groups etc • outdoor activities, including forest school and gardening projects

Additional information: We are considering services under three main categories:

1. Universal Services Everyday community services or activities which can be accessed by everyone, but with a focus on widening this offer to include children and young people with SEND.

2. Targeted Services Specific short break activities for children and young people who cannot access universal services without requiring additional support. Cohorts for this group would include: • an award of middle or higher rate Disability Living Allowance (DLA) • a Personal Care Plan Payment (under 16) or Personal Independence Payment (16+) • an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) • attendance at a Special School or Special Facility Placement

3. Specialist Services Designed to meet the needs of individual children and young people and their carers, following a social care assessment. Specialist short breaks are highly specialised or bespoke services for children and young people who have: • Severe and enduring cognitive delay and learning disability • Low functional abilities • Physical disabilities

When you complete the survey (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/5INMRH/) this will give us some information on the type of provision you would look to offer as part of an application. We will then discuss the next steps with you, which will form a commissioning strategy offering spaces on a programme that will start in Easter 2024.

Thank you for wanting to be part of this exciting new process and look forward to hearing from you all via our survey.