Short breaks

Universal short breaks are everyday community services that can be used by everyone without an assessment. For example:

• after school activities
• childminders
• leisure centres
• uniformed organisations, for example Scouts and Girl Guiding
• special interest clubs
• youth hubs.

Wherever possible, these should be accessible to disabled children and young people and should form part of the valuable experiences as they grow up. Please contact them directly if you're concerned about how your son or daughter would access these services.

Find a universal short break near you

Alternatively you can also visit our days out and activities page for family days out.

Families of disabled children and young people can self-refer to targeted short breaks. They're for those who can't get universal services without extra help, according to the Disability Discrimination Act 2010. They can be provided on weekends, evenings and during school holidays.

We purchase a number of short break activities across the county. All organisations that receive funding from us are required to register on our local offer directory.

Find targeted services locally available to you

Register your targeted short break on our directory.

Specialist short breaks are daytime or overnight services, or services paid for by direct payments, including support in the home.

They are designed to meet the needs of an individual child or young person and their carers after a social care assessment (child and families assessment or young person’s assessment from age 16).

Sensory supported short breaks

Children or young adults with sensory needs can access specialist services commissioned to meet their specific needs.

Contact our specialist teaching and learning service (STLS) for more information.

Children who fall under the severe and profound criteria, but whose needs cannot be met through community resources, specialist health provisions, or existing support networks may be eligible for a referral to one of our five in-house short break units.

Additionally, these children will have other contributing factors that make overnight provision the most appropriate support, such as:

• being subject to a child protection plan
• having significant nighttime needs, such as not sleeping, behaviours that challenge and require wake night staff to keep the child safe, or complex health needs requiring health tasks that can be delegated to short break unit staff
• exhibiting significant daytime behaviours that challenge, resulting in parents or carers benefiting from a break from caring to recharge
• having a higher need for specialist support to promote a healthier sleeping routine that can be transferred back into the home environment.

The short break units are:

• Bluebells Short Break Unit, (next to the Village Hall), Detling, Kent
• Fairlawn Short Break Unit, Ashford, Kent
• The Sunrise Children's Centre, Sunrise, Southborough, Kent
• Treetops Short Break Unit, Dartford, Kent
• Windchimes Children's Resource Centre, Herne Bay, Kent.

Universal short breaks

Charges are set by the activity provider and you will probably pay the same price as other parents. It's best to check with the provider directly to discuss costs.

Targeted, specialist and overnight short breaks

For grant funded targeted and specialist short breaks you will be expected to make a parental contribution of at least £2.50 per hour towards the activities.

This contribution does not cover the whole cost of providing the break or activity but is a contribution at a similar amount to what all parents would pay for children’s clubs and activities.

Shared Lives support young people aged over the age of 16.

They can choose a placement of their choice, which is somewhere safe and supportive for them to stay in the home of a chosen host. Their host could be a single person, a couple or a whole family. They are able to be a part of a family, bring their own things and be supported in their hobbies, interests and activities.

Find out more about Shared Lives.