Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better support for families (2007) is the Government’s commitment to the improvement of services for disabled children and their families. The largest transformation of services is within short breaks and this has been supported by funding of £430,000,000 nationally.

Leicestershire supports the vision that this transformation is completed in partnership with disabled children, their parent/carers, partner agencies and organisations. A key component in achieving this change is communication at all levels, to ensure transparent, effective strategic planning, commissioning, consultation and participation.

Vision

Leicestershire is committed to the transformation and expansion of short break services for disabled children and their families, from inclusive Universal services, through to Specialist provision. Leicestershire will promote the participation and involvement of disabled children/young people and their parent carers throughout this process and work alongside partners in other agencies in developing this transformation. Leicestershire will promote the Every Child Matters Five Outcomes throughout this process and ensure that short breaks provision provides choice, flexibility and opportunities, across the County, for all disabled children and young people. We want short break provision to support parent/carers to live everyday family lives to enable them to continue in their caring role.

Objectives

To increase the range of short break provision in Leicestershire
To improve the quality and quantity of this provision in respect of the Every Child Matters outcomes for all disabled children
To enable parents/carers to have choice and flexibility of short break provision to assist them to lead ordinary lives
To identify priority needs and targeted groups/communities across Leicestershire

Purpose

To achieve the objectives for the transformation of short break services we need to ensure clear communication between and across all parties involved in this process. An action plan to clarify how we intend to communicate and develop consultation and participation will be identified and include the processes for feedback, review of service provision and outcomes.

Aims

Proactive communication with disabled children and their parent/carers to identify need and ascertain their views and wishes for the short break transformation.
To inform on how they can participate and be consulted throughout this process
To ensure that disabled children, parent carers and all stakeholders are aware of the vision and the Aiming High agenda
To ensure we have well informed internal processes in order to achieve the Core Offer.
To ensure the involvement of a diverse community within this process

Target groups

Internal

Newsletter via e-mail /CIS on the Aiming High agenda
E-mail to social care staff involved with commissioning/providing short breaks
Attendance at team meetings, team manager meetings, extended SSMT
Sharing information on specific planning groups e.g. Transitions
To target all CYPS staff involved in universal through to targeted and specialist service provision e.g. Early years, schools, inclusion service, youth, play and leisure

External

Disabled Children, parent/carers, agencies, independent providers, and voluntary sector services, District Councils

Letters/questionnaires to parent/carers already receiving a service
Website-up to date information/ links to other sites
Target parent/carers not receiving a service and to look at specific groups of need e.g. health care, autism, physical and learning disabilities
Parent/carer forums countywide to discuss consultation process and engage parent/carers in participation
Developments of questionnaire/consultation methods for disabled children and look at specific age groups, and needs.
Consideration of consultation events across the County with support from voluntary service providers/InfoXchange
Liaison with schools to seek support for consultation with disabled children
Consideration to participation /Active involvement forums for disabled children for active involvement
Provider consultation and information events on future service delivery