Dear Parents Name

Short Break Local Offer Information for families wishing to use community short breaks activities through the Short Break Local Offer from September 2014

This factsheet provides information for families interested in using specialist play schemes and other activities through the Short Break Local Offer.

The factsheet includes links to other documents which will only work if you are viewing this factsheet electronically.

At the end of the factsheet is a list of full web addresses to those documents. 40 hours per year

You can request the KIDS HUBs to send of short these to you in hard copy if you prefer. break activities The contact details for the HUBs are provided on page 4.

Hertfordshire County Council Children’s Services Telephone: 0300 123 4043 http://www.hertsdirect.org/localoffer

of 12 What is the Short Break Local Offer?

The Short Break Local Offer (SBLO) is an offer from Hertfordshire County Council to all disabled children in Hertfordshire. We aim to:

 make access to short breaks more transparent and equitable,  offer more disabled children and young people a short break,  increase the range of short break activities  help those families who need extra support.

Community short breaks are part of the range of short breaks support at four levels: o Community short breaks - Universal o Community short breaks – Activities Extra o Specialist short breaks - SBLO Plus o Specialist short breaks - SBLO Intensive

This leaflet is primarily concerned with SBLO Activities Extra. This includes arrangements for access to Hertfordshire County Council funded community based short breaks, such as specialist play-schemes, Saturday clubs and other activities.

Each child with disability will have an entitlement of 40 hours provision per year without needing to have a social work assessment.

The introduction of the Short Break Local Offer does not mean that you will lose support if the level of support your family receives has been assessed by the Disabled Children's Team

The Short Break Partnership Group is committed to keeping the entitlement under review and if possible to increase the level of entitlement.

Who is Eligible?

Families with a disabled child living in Hertfordshire. Please refer to Appendix 2 on page 10 for further information.

When will the SBLO be available?

From September 2014 you will be able to apply for up to 40 hours of activities which the Council funds.

You will also be able to use universal services and a wide range of inclusive and specialist activities not funded by the Council. The HUBs directory is a useful source

of 12 of up to date information about services available, it is available on their website www.kids.org.uk/hub

Overview of Short Break Eligibility

There are four levels of short breaks support as set out in Appendix 2 on page 10: o Community short breaks - Universal o Community short breaks – Activities Extra o Specialist short breaks - SBLO Plus o Specialist short breaks - SBLO Intensive

 What are Community Short Break Universal Activities? Community Short Break Activities include community groups e.g. local sports clubs, scouts/guides as well as groups that specifically support disabled children but do not receive funding from Hertfordshire County Council. There is a directory on the KIDS HUB website of inclusive activities for disabled children: www.kids.org.uk/hub (see below for direct contact details).

How do I access them? You can contact the activity providers directly to book (if necessary).

 What are Community Short Break ‘Activities Extra’? Community Short Break Activities Extra refers to services for disabled children funded by Hertfordshire County Council. At the time of writing these activities are provided for 5 to 19 year olds and include some of the services provided by:

 CHIPS  Noah’s Ark  North Herts College  North Herts CVS Breakaway  SNAP Hertfordshire Ltd  Watford Mencap  Jubilee House Care Trust  Papworth Trust  Action for Children / Aldenham Adventures  Bishop’s Stortford Mencap

(see Appendix 1 on pages 8-9 for more information)

of 12 How do I access community short breaks activities extra?

There are two routes available depending on whether or not you currently also receive a package of care through the Disabled Children’s Teams:

1: Families who are not known to Disabled Children’s Team

If you have a disabled child or young person, and live in Hertfordshire, and wish to use the services we fund please contact the KIDS HUBs to apply.

KIDS East HUB: Hertford KIDS West HUB: Watford 01992 504013 01923 676549 Kirsty Russell Hollie Hunt

KIDS will help you with:  a discussion of the activities you and your child or young person are interested in. Some of these may be activities which are not funded by HCC.

 a brief application form and evidence of your child’s age, disability / level of need and address. The application form is available on www.hertsdirect.org/localoffer and can be sent to you in hard copy.

 KIDS will contact the services you are interested in, and then will contact you again.

 You can proceed to contact the service directly to make arrangements.

Activity providers may ask for more detailed information from you regarding your child’s needs than is included in your short break local offer application form, to enable them to provide the appropriate care and support for your child.

Activity providers will make a maximum charge to families of £2 per hour. Discretion for financial hardship will be assessed by providers. Providers may arrange additional optional trips and visits for which additional fees apply.

of 12 2: Families known to Disabled Children’s Team

Please discuss with your DCT worker at the next review meeting if you would like to explore community short break ‘activities extra’ as part of your package of care.

If this is agreed the Brokerage and Short Breaks Review Team (B&SBRT) will discuss with you the activities you would like your child to use as part of the care package, and will confirm this with the service provider. You will not need to ask the HUBs to do this for you.

Brokerage and Short Breaks Review Team: 01438 844254 [email protected]

Depending on the assessed needs and the care plan in place, families receiving a package of care through the DCT:  may receive 40 hours or more of ‘activities extra’ provision  may receive more than 40 hours of ‘activities extra’ as well as other services included in the care package or  may not take up the full 40 hours of ‘activities extra’ – such as where some or all of the care package is provided through alternative specialist services.

The agreed arrangements and services for your child/ young person will only change if there is a change to your care plan following a re- assessment of need.

There is the option for families who receive a service through the Disabled Children’s Team to have a personal budget (an agreed sum of money to arrange their own support). Further information about this will be available from September 2014.

Can my child attend activities for more than 40 hours per year?

 We think that the Short Break local Offer will help to increase the number of families who use short breaks  If your preferred service has additional spaces, these will be offered to families (there may be a charge of more than £2 per hour for additional sessions)  You may also use your own funds (DLA or PIP) to buy sessions in your chosen service.

of 12 What happens if I cancel an activity?

If you have booked onto a session and then need to cancel, the service provider may not be able to offer you an alternative and you may lose your hours for that session.

Annual re-checks

Each child’s entitlement is for a year from the date that their eligibility and access has been confirmed. It is envisaged that future annual checks will be lighter touch involving confirmation of residence within Hertfordshire and only re-checking evidence of disability when the original evidence you supplied has expired. The HUBs will let you know when to re-apply. Children who also have a care package through the DCT will not need to re-apply for SBLO as this will be confirmed as part of the Child In Need or Short Breaks Review meeting which takes place at least annually.

Recording Information

The KIDS HUBs will send the Council the names of all children eligible and wishing to access activities. The B&SBT will record these on the Council’s ICS database.

Comments and Complaints

Organisations welcome comments, complaints and compliments, this helps us to continually improve.

Complaints about the way in which the KIDS HUBs or B&SBRT have processed SBLO applications should be directed to KIDS or the Council respectively, using the complaints procedures which can be found by clicking the links. If a complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of a complaint regarding the KIDS HUBs they may wish to complain to the Council as the commissioner of the service.

The KIDS comments and complaints policy can be found here.

The Council’s complaints procedure can be found on this page.

Complaints about services received from SBLO activity providers should be directed to the provider via the provider’s complaints procedure in the first instance. If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of their complaint they may wish to complain to the Council as the commissioner of the service.

Please contact the KIDS HUBs if there is anything in this factsheet that you are unsure of.

of 12 The following flowchart outlines the process for families:

Child / young person has additional need and is looking for local activities Acknowledgement received within one week, you will be advised of any waiting time Family contacts the HUB

HUB researches relevant Community Needs HUB signposts or assists Short Break Activities (universal) and met family to access Community discusses choices available with family Short Break Activities (universal)

Needs not met

Family completes an application form for Community Short Break Not eligible Activities Extra or contacts B&SBRT where the family receives a DCT Within 2 weeks of receipt of all documents (subject to any Eligibility confirmed queries)

Choosing activities: HUB / B&SBRT researches ‘Activities Extra’, discusses options with family to choose activities; check availability with provider(s); Within a further 2 weeks providers discuss intended usage with subject to the family being families to ensure space is available available to discuss intended usage with the activity provider

Family contacts the HUB / B&SBRT confirms hours and activity provider(s) to activity to be accessed with family and book sessions. provider(s)

HUB sends annual reminder to re- apply for ‘Activities Extra’

of 12 Appendix 1: List of Commissioned Activities

CHIPS: (contact number 01992 534664)Holiday Playscheme HoddesdonHoliday Playscheme Cheshunt Holiday Playscheme Ware Holiday Playscheme HertfordHoliday Playscheme Bishops StortfordSaturday Club Hoddesdon Saturday Club CheshuntSaturday Club WareSaturday Club HertfordSaturday Club Bishops Stortford Computer / Gaming Club Hertford Cookery Club Ware Climbing Club HarlowSNAP: (contact number 01727 863813)Holiday Scheme Dacorum Holiday Scheme Welwyn / HatfieldHoliday Scheme St AlbansSaturday Club DacorumSaturday Club Welwyn / HatfieldSaturday Club St AlbansVenturers Group (15-19) Adventure Activities (8-19) and Overnight Adventure Activities (8-19) Social and Leisure Group (14-19) Special Interest Activities (11-19) Independent Living Group (11-19)Noah's Ark: (contact number 020 8906 2783)Holiday playscheme HertsmereNorth Herts College: (01462 424242 ext 3466 mobile: 07943880667)Summer Scheme (16 – 25) Watford Mencap: (contact number 01923 220816)Holiday Playscheme Saturday Club (5 – 13)Youth Club (14 - 19) Lego Club Adventure Together (14 – 19) Buddying Service

of 12 North Herts CVS Breakaway: (contact number 01462 689406)North Herts & Stevenage Saturday Breakaway ClubNorth Herts & Stevenage Breakaway Holiday Playscheme (5 - 13)North Herts & Stevenage Breakaway Holiday Club (14 - 19 Challenging and Behavioural Disabilities)Stevenage Breakaway Holiday Playscheme and Youth Club (14 - 19 Complex Health Needs) Jubilee House Care Trust: (contact number 01707 390107)After school activity groups – Welwyn Garden CityPop Dance group – Welwyn Garden CityPerson centred individual / small group outreachAction for Children / Aldenham Adventures (01923 361500 / 07525 731688) Holiday Playscheme Outdoor Activities Holiday Youth ClubBishop’s Stortford Mencap (01279 656085)Performing ArtsYouth ClubGet Active groupHoliday ClubSaturday Club

Papworth Trust (0300 4562391 / 0796 9241306) Youth Club – Royston

of 12 Appendix 2: Eligibility and Access Eligibility and Access information is available on the Short Break Local Offer pages of the Hertsdirect website. Please contact the HUBs for a hard copy if you do not have access to the internet. The contact details for the HUBs are provided on page 4. The eligibility criteria for the Short Breaks Local Offer refer to Hertfordshire’s definition of disability. Eligibility for ‘Activities Extra’ also includes: children who have other needs, such as those associated with ADHD for example, where the child receives: DLA middle or highest rate care component or higher rate mobility component; or any rate PIP daily living component or enhanced rate PIP mobility component.

of 12 Short Eligibility Access and Review Services and Resources Break Local Offer Community Service eligibility with Set out by individual Mainstream services Short Break reasonable adjustment services offering inclusive and Activities where necessary. specialist offer e.g. youth (Universal) group, drama class, Any child can access by scouts. booking directly with the Information, advice and club signposting to services.

Community Child receives DLA Family applies Mainstream and specialist Short Break middle or highest rate care annually to the community services Activities component or higher rate Hubs. Extra (Short mobility component; or Annual award of 40 hours Break Local any rate PIP daily living in commissioned services. Offer First) component or enhanced rate PIP mobility component; or supporting documentation from health professional confirming child’s disability /level of need, or disability identified in Education, Health and Care Plan. Specialist Assessment of need Funding in addition to the Short Break by Social care /DCT. Community short break Offer (SBLO activities offer. plus) Child and family’s needs Annual allocation meet Hertfordshire’s and annual re- Allocation based on Access to Social Care assessment of need Resource Allocation Support for Disabled and resources. System Specialist Children and Children with Comprehensive Substantial, complex, multi Short Break Additional Needs. social care agency package of service Offer extra assessment and including short breaks. (SBLO ongoing social care Care package that could Intensive) support. include additional funding for support from a carer or Minimum 6 monthly care away from home e.g. Child in Need review overnights and in to reassess need residential settings and and resources. Shared Care Links

Short Break information http://directory.hertsdirect.org/kb5/hertfordshire/directory/site.page? id=LTuPu2UgGQg

Eligibility and Access document http://www.hertsdirect.org/docs/pdf/s/Short_Break_Local_Offer_Eligibility_and_Acces s_FINAL_May_2014.pdf

Short Break Local Offer Activities Extra Application Form

of 12 https://search3.openobjects.com/mediamanager/herts/enterprise/files/short_break_lo cal_offer_application_form.pdf

Hertfordshire County Council’s Complaints Procedure http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-community/havesay/commentcomplain/

KIDS HUBs http://www.kids.org.uk/hub

KIDS Comments and Complaints Policy http://www.kids.org.uk/comments-and-complaints-policy

This information can be made available upon request in other formats, including large print, Braille, audio and other languages.