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
Community Short Breaks give children and young people experiences that are fun, stimulating and enjoyable. They are independent from their parents and carers and aim to reduce social isolation and help their personal and social development.
Community Short Breaks also give parents and carers a necessary and valuable rest from caring responsibilities, allowing them to re-charge their batteries, spend time with other family members and provide space to do other things.
We aim to support families who are not receiving any other similar support. Therefore, we cannot offer a service to any child who already receives any of the following services:
- Residential stays at school.
- Hospice care, play schemes.
- Youth services.
- Link Care (Fostering Service) scheme.
- After school clubs.
- Any other service delivered by The Light House. This also includes direct payments that have been awarded for social activities.
What’s on offer
Provider services
Community Short Breaks are delivered by specialist providers. Children are taken out in specialist groups which are designed to be stimulating, enjoyable and fun and to help promote friendships and peer support. They offer an exciting choice of varied activities at several venues across the city. Special events are arranged throughout the year too, celebrating religious and cultural holidays, local carnivals and national events. Day trips are available, some of which are suitable for the whole family to enjoy.
How much does it cost?
Support workers are provided free of charge. However, some activities will have additional costs which families will need to pay for.
Community Short Break Grant
The Community Short Breaks Grant is a cash payment made directly to the family. The grant allows families to choose and purchase their own activity or short break, such as, 1-1 swimming lessons, horse riding or nursey placement.
To be eligible for a service offered by the Community Short Breaks team, your child will be aged between 0-17 years, have a diagnosed disability and not already receiving any of these funded services: residential stays at school; hospice care, play schemes; youth services; Link Care (Fostering Service) scheme; after school clubs and any other service delivered by The Light House. This also includes Direct Payments that have been awarded for social activities
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.