Right, you ALL need to try this.......
Apparently, most areas have a section called the sitting scheme under the 'Family Placement' department of social services.
Basically, if your child has special needs, you ring them yourself,its a 'open referral' which means you dont have to contact a social worker, dont have to have your kid on the social services register, they literally just fill a form in about your famly in general and try and match one of their police checked, ASD/SN aware babysitters who are usually mums themselves, who want to earn extra cash on an evening/daytime/weekend (whichever fits in with yours and their family lives) by sitting for the likes of us!!!
And the best bit..... ITS FREE!!!! You dont pay a bloody penny!!! The sitters are paid by social services, not us!!!
I deliberately asked if this was run in other areas (we live in Leeds) and she said yes, most. They also can discuss respite care if you want that as well. This is apparently done by foster carers, but she pointed out that this was completely different to a child having to go into foster care because of 'various other issues'. the respite is done by foster carers only because they have had the appropriate checks and training required to look after our kids. Sometimes foster carers on the register have no kids allocated to them, so do respite instead.
So get on the phone tomorrow!!!!!!!
Still keep thinking theres a catch.....but she is bringing the sitter to meet us as a famliy next Thursday!!!!
My only question is, WHY THE HELL DIDNT SOMEONE TELL US ABOUT THIS EARLIER!!!! I only found out through a friend.....
Good luck everyone!!