Respite during the school holidays?

[HOTD7383]

DD is 8 and has autism. She attends an SEN school and she really struggles with the school holidays, being at home all of the time and out of that school routine.

We have never had a social worker for DD’s additional needs so I’m not quite sure how this all works.

I have health issues myself and we cope absolutely fine on a normal school week but the holidays are just becoming unbearable because of DD’s behaviour - lashing out physically at people, hitting, throwing things, screaming all day long - it’s genuinely getting too much for me. I’m a single parent but my family do help out occasionally when they have availability.

I want to start enquiring about respite help during the school holidays, maybe someone to just take her out for a few hours regularly, how do I go about this please and has anyone got any experience?

Contact has model letters you can use to request social care assessments. A carer’s assessment for you and an assessment via the disabled children’s team for DD. You could also look at your LA’s short breaks offer.

A social worker assesment is what you need, they can direct you to direct payments , local offers and respite. They are the only gateway for this. It’s a separate social worker department who deal with children with disabilities so don’t let the world social worker frighten you.

Also check out your local offer website. You may find there is provision that you can access without an assessment. For example DS (also in SN school) goes to various short breaks provided, free, by the LA for autistic kids or sometimes kids with a variety of disabilities. Some I have to stay with him for, but some I can leave him at for a blissful 4hrs.