Personalisation Hub – Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

What is a Short Break?

Parents/carers of disabled children are often required to provide intensive support 24 hours per day. This can often leave little time to deal with other aspects of day to day life. A short break is designed provide opportunities for disabled children and young people to spend time away from their primary carers and enable their carers to take a ‘break’ from care. During a short break, young people have the opportunities to learn new skills, meet new people and become more independent. Short breaks do not always mean spending time apart though. In some situations, a little extra help to do things as a family is needed. This is also considered to be a short break.

What is the Personalisation Service?

The Personalisation Service is a Team set up specifically to oversee Pathway One and Two Short Breaks. These Pathways enable families to access a variety of different Short Breaks with higher pathways only accessible via a Social Work Assessment.

Pathway One Short Breaks enable families to apply for a Short Breaks budget of up to £1,664 per year. This pathway is a grant process which requires families to reapply for their Short Breaks budget on an annual basis. Pathway Two Short Breaks enable families to access a budget of up to £6,656 per year. On this Pathway your Short Breaks will be reviewed on an annual basis by your allocated personalisation officer to ensure that they are still meeting your needs.

 What is the eligibility Criteria to apply for Pathway 1 or Pathway 2?

• Young people between the age of 5 to 17.
• Young person must be Nottingham City resident.
• Young person must have diagnosed or identified disability.
• Young person must require specialist 1:1 support to access their community and the application must demonstrate why universal or targeted services are not accessible.
• The application must be supported by a registered professional that knows the child in their professional capacity.
• Young person must have an assessment identifying the needs for a Short Break (for example an EHCP or CAF assessment – Pathway Two requirement only).

NB where you do not meet the above criteria but feel that you still need a Short Break then you should contact the Disabled Children’s Team to request a Social Worker Assessment.

What Short Breaks can I access through the Personalisation Service?

We provide a range of services to support carers and young people. These include

• Befriending services
• Group activity sessions
• Direct Payments
• Sitting services

Further details of these services can be found on the adjoining pages of the local offer website. Please note that you cannot access any regulated overnight care via the Personalisation Service

How are services accessed?

Families can apply to the Personalisation Service by completing an online application which can be found on the Council's website at the address below along with accompanying guidance.

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/ShortBreaks