What services do we offer?

Residential short breaks

The residential service provides overnight short breaks for disabled children.  

Based on the ground floor of the Light House, the residential facility has 10 bedrooms all with ensuite facilities.  It is separated into two units, known as ‘Sun’ and ‘Star’. It is run by a team of skilled and experienced residential child care workers

Sun

Sun is a 6-bedroomed unit designed for children with multiple disabilities, complex medical needs and physical impairments. The bedrooms have equipment, aids and adaptations to help meet the needs of the more physically disabled children. There is a treatment room and a sensory room to provide a stimulating experience, plus a large playroom with patio doors leading to a sensory garden which has an accessible swing and a roundabout for wheelchair users.

Star

Star is 4-bedroomed unit designed for children and young people with challenging behaviours. There is also a sensory room to provide a calming experience, and an indoor soft-play room.

The gardens include a play area containing a rubberised track for quad bikes and recreational equipment for children who enjoy more physical activities. Both garden areas are safe and secure and are accessible from the building via separate patio doors.

Ofsted inspect the residential service to make sure it continues to deliver a good service.

We have a fully adapted minibus which is used to take children and young people on outings.

To be eligible for a residential short break, your child will be aged between 0-17 years and have a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability, or any other condition (for example, a life limiting illness) and a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability.

Occupational therapy

The Occupational Therapy team works in partnership with disabled children and their families to promote independent living within the home.

An occupational therapist will visit disabled children in their own home and carry out an assessment of their needs. The assessment will identify any equipment or adaptations that may be required to maximise the child’s independence within the home; for example, handrails, grab rails and ramps. The occupational therapist will then arrange for the provision of these adaptations including obtaining quotations if specialist adaptations are required.

If major adaptations are required, Disabled Facilities Grants are available to owner / occupiers and privately rented properties.

To be eligible for a service offered by the Occupational Therapy team, your child will be aged between 0-17 years and have a diagnosed permanent and substantial physical disability or a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability.

Direct payments

A direct payment is money given to parent, carers or young people, by the authority, to enable them to buy in support that is assessed as being needed, instead of the authority providing that support through their own services such as residential care or a Community Short Break. Direct payments do not affect benefits.

Direct payments are available to children aged between 0-17 years with a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability, or any other condition (such as a life limiting illness) and a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability.

Community Short Breaks Statement

Information for families in Derby with a child with a disability

This statement includes information about:

• Our current Community Short Breaks offer
• How to access Community Short Breaks
• Eligibility criteria for Community Short Breaks

Why do we need a Community Short Breaks Statement?

The Community Short Breaks Statement pertains to Community Short Breaks as part of a broader offer for children with disabilities across Derby City.

Local authorities are required by law to publish a statement about short break services for children with disabilities and their families under the Short Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children, Statutory Guidance 2011. There is a wide range of activities provided by community organisations that all children can access, such as Scouts, Brownies, sporting clubs, and various youth clubs. These clubs may have their own criteria, such as age suitability. Children with disabilities should be able to access these activities if they wish. The organisers of these activities have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure children with disabilities can participate.

To access universal services, parents and carers should contact the provider directly. A list of these activities and organisations can be found on Derby’s SEND Local Offer.

What are Community Short Breaks?

Community Short Breaks provide children with disabilities the opportunity to engage in fun, stimulating, and enjoyable activities independently from their parents and carers. These breaks aim to reduce social isolation and support personal and social development.

Community Short Breaks also give parents and carers a valuable rest from their caregiving responsibilities, allowing them to recharge, spend time with other family members, and engage in other activities.

What’s on offer?

There are two types of Community Short Breaks: Provider Services and Grants.

Provider Services

Community Short Breaks services are delivered by specialist providers. These providers arrange specialist activity groups designed to be stimulating, enjoyable, and fun, promoting friendships and peer support. They offer a variety of exciting activities at several venues across the city. Special events are arranged throughout the year to celebrate religious and cultural holidays, local carnivals, and national events. Day trips are also available during school holidays, some of which are suitable for the whole family. Provider services are available after school, on weekends, or during school holidays.

How much does it cost?

Support workers are provided free of charge. However, some activities may have additional costs that families will need to cover.

Grants

The Community Short Breaks Grant is a cash payment made directly to the parent or carer of a child with a disability. This payment allows families flexibility, choice, and control to choose their own short break activities, such as family days out, school clubs, additional nursery hours, horse-riding and swimming lessons.

The current Community Short Break Grant Award is £560 per child for 12 months. This is paid directly to the parent/carer's nominated bank account. Parents and carers are required to sign a Community Short Breaks Grant Agreement and submit evidence of expenditure, including completing a spending form and submitting receipts.

Important Note: The Grant is not a Direct Payment. However, some families may use the grant to make ‘top-up’ payments to a support worker if they have an existing privately funded arrangement. If you wish to use the grant for this purpose, you must provide Derby City Council with evidence that you have employer’s liability insurance, the support worker has been issued an employment contract, a satisfactory DBS check has been undertaken, and that you are paying Tax/NI owed to HMRC. This ensures that recipients of the Grant comply with employment law.

Who can apply for a Community Short Break (eligibility criteria)

Your child must have a diagnosed disability. We support children with disabilities who are not receiving any other similar support to a Community Short Break. Therefore, we cannot offer a service to any child who already accesses community activities or receives any other service delivered by The Light House. This also includes Direct Payments awarded for social activities.

How do I access Community Short Breaks?

You will need to ask a professional who knows your child to complete an Early Help Assessment form. A professional may be a:

• School teacher
• Community nurse
• Health visitor
• Paediatrician
• Occupational therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Doctor (GP)

You can also request it by emailing us at VCM-IDCS@derby.gov.uk or by telephone on 01332 956457. You must provide evidence of diagnosis by including at least one of the following with the Early Help Assessment:

• A psychiatric report
• A psychologist’s report
• Confirmation of diagnosis from a paediatrician
• A completed Education Health Care Plan

If we do not receive this evidence, we will not be able to consider your request. You may include any other relevant assessments you think will support the referral.

Fieldwork

The Fieldwork team consists of social workers and children’s practitioners who are responsible for assessment, care planning, safeguarding, short-term intervention and early intervention of younger children.

To be eligible for a serviced offered by the Fieldwork team, your child will be aged between 0-17 years and have a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability, or any other condition (e.g. life limiting illness) and a diagnosed moderate to severe learning disability.