Some young people with disabilities and complex health needs, may be eligible for an overnight short break especially if they require support throughout the night.
Children and young people can stay overnight during the week and/or at weekends depending on their assessed needs, spending time away from their main carers. An overnight short break may be provided in a community residential setting or the home of an approved carer.
An overnight short break is a specialist service, available only once a social work assessment of need has been completed. This assessment would be arranged via a referral through the 0-25 Together Service.
We have now completed the recommissioning of the Overnight Short Breaks Service and we would like to share the outcome with you.
We have discussed and developed the new service model with representatives from Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI), Carers in Herts, Young Commissioners, Health colleagues and professionals within the County Council. Together with our own analysis of the performance of the current service, we have also run surveys of parent views, a well-attended stakeholder event and a formal public consultation, that has fed into the new service design.
We have now given contracts to:
The Pines, Hertford - provider: Jubilee House Care Trust
West Hyde, Rickmansworth - provider: Action for Children
Peartree, Welwyn Garden City - provider: Jubilee House Care Trust
This will be effective from 1 April 2022
Summary of OSB service changes and improvements (from April 2022):
- Provider of service at The Pines: Jubilee House Care Trust. Work is underway to support the transfer of staff from Action for Children to Jubilee House Care Trust under TUPE
- Providers will offer a flexible and personalised offer for children and young people. This will include 'add on' services such as Short Breaks Local Offer (SBLO) and support that can be purchased through Direct Payments.
- Settings are now required to operate at 85% occupancy (taking into account occupancy levels and vacancies) to ensure that the maximum number of OSB nights can be delivered to children and young people.
- Providers will develop a clear cancellation policy and complaint policy that is conveyed to all families.
- The inclusion and participation of children and young people in the decision making is a vital part of making the service work well. Providers are to hold regular children and young people’s meetings and ensure they are able to contribute to the decision-making processes.
How will this affect me, or the person I care for?
We hope that the only changes to the service you and your child currently receive will be positive ones based on the points above. However, if you have any concerns or queries you can contact us or your current provider using the contact details below.
Hertfordshire County Council, SEND Commissioning: SENDcommissioning@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Jubilee House Care Trust at Peartree, Sam Perry: 01707 390107
Action for Children at West Hyde, Nicola Gubbins:01923 718939
Action for Children at The Pines, Julie O’Connor: 01992 504019