short breaks and other support services for disabled children and young people and their families (SP/

Short breaks are services that local authorities have a statutory duty to provide to assist parents and others who provide care for disabled children and young people. This enables parents and carers to continue to care for their children or do this more effectively.

Short breaks not only provide a break for parents and carers, but can also lead to a better quality of care being provided. This results in better outcomes not only for the disabled child, but for the whole family.

This includes reduced family breakdown and reduced likelihood of requests for residential school provision. The provision of short breaks also supports the Council's approach to meeting the needs of children with complex needs and reducing the need for high cost out of borough placements. The service will be tendered in two lots Lot 1Group Based Short Breaks Lot 2 Outreach Short Breaks the contract/s (both lots) is for an initial period of 3 years with the option of 2 extensions each of one year at the sole discretion of the council.