Short breaks funding

[Toni29]

Hi
Someone has enquired about short breaks funding for my son on my behalf. Can someone please enlighten me on what this is? I'm worried that it is to do with respite care, I don't want to put my son in respite. Many thanks x

In our area it can be one of several things. This includes respite care but also holiday/after school groups for similarly disabled children or being given "a buddy" who may take the child out of the home or in the case of ds2 play with him at home (because he is often too anxious to go out). We had the opportunity to discuss with the short breaks coordinator what sort of support we needed and what ds2 would be able to access.

In my area it can be respite at a children's home or with a nursing agency or it be for direct payments.
I get direct payments for DS and i pay my best friend to take him swimming, look after him at home or accompany me on days out. The council pay money direct into my bank and i pay my friend her wages, tax and NI. We have an employment contract and i have to have employers insurance and she is crb checked at well. It works well for me because my friend is very flexible whereas respite with a nursing agency wouldnt be. The rules where i live is that anyone can be the direct payment worker as long as they do not live in the same house as the child.