Summary
This service is for children and young people up to the age of 20 who have additional needs. The children are accompanied to an activity of their choice, enhancing their social skills, confidence and independance. Family members, in turn, have a break from their caring role.
What Children & Young Peoples Service did
Short break activities have included going to the park, the library, soft play, visiting shops and cafes, feeding the ducks and visiting the museum, accompying to a social club, attending wellness sessions at the swimming pool, taking trips on public transport and having meals out.
These activities, with both boys and girls, with varying additional support needs, took place mostly outwith the home in the community.
One child is supported within their home.
These children are referred to us by the local authority or self referred by their carers. We then match with staff depending on locality and availability.
Whilst participating in activities parents/carers were able to have some time for themselves or take siblings to different activities when they wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.
The service was fortunate to recruit 2 staff which increased our capacity within the childrens service. The increase was small but a step in th eright direction.
Partnership working with one school was further developed to get it right for every child. Also, partnership working with the local authoritoes all age learning disibilty service was commensed and will continue to be build upon.
This project adressed the following better break priority areas-
Complex needs- We enabled children and young people with the most complex needs and their carers to access short break opportuntities to meet their needs.
Sports and active leisure- This was met through attending leisure facilities.
Independance- The project enabled children and young people to develop their independance outside the family home.
Diversity- The project enabled young people living in remopte and rural areas to have their needs met through a short break.
Success has been the fact that we have been able to operate the service as normal for those who need it most now that venues have opened up again, providing much more oportunities to promote independance, confidence and increased wellbeing.
The project went as planned and as well as practicibly possible where capacity allowed, with emphasis on consistency and regularity.
What Crossroads Care Orkney has learned
Partnership working- Ultimately this is off paramount importance and makes the service the best it can be.
Reaching out to and engaging with new families can sometimes be difficult in a small community but this has worked particulary well by working in partnership with the rural schools to ensure needs are met and outcomes achieved.
How Crossroads Care Orkney has benefitted from the funding
Our organisation has benefitted greatly from the better breaks funding. Without this funding we would very much struggle to support this many children and young people when budgets are resticted and finances are tight.
This funding helped us to secure additional funding locally to pay the milage incurred on trips out.
Better breaks funding has also enabled us to development and enhance new partnerships with differnt schools, agencies and professionals.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
9 children and young people will have been taken to activities of their choice to mix with their peers every week.
Results
10 children and young people have been taken to activities of their choice to mix with their peers. Some of these activities have not happened on a weekly basis due to capacity and availability but we have done as much as practicably possible on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
The project outcome was achieved but not all activities were as regular as the service would have liked. Covid has played a part in the reduction of activities also.
Case study
Harry (anon.) is a keen swimmer and loves to attend sessions at the pool. 2 carers were able to support Harry to attend the pool on a fortnightly basis. This has been very positive for Harry. His confidence has grown, the enjoyment he gets is immense, his family are safe in the knowledge he is safe and supported by 2 carers, allowing them to have some time to either spend alone or to take part in an activity that isn't to Harrys liking.
Note- NO PERMISSION GIVEN TO SHARE.
Outcome
25 parents, young carers and siblings will have had regular respite and a chance to pursue their own interests.
Results
The outcome was achieved as between parents, young carers and siblings a total of 27 people have had respite and a chance to persue their own interests.
Case study
Bethany (anon.) has built up an amazing realtionship with her carer. Her confidence has grown and when she is feeling good she feels more able to try things she never imagined she would. Her carer has accompanied her to wellness sessions at the lesiure facilities which have been very sucessful. She has gained confidence and self esteem by being supported to do this at her own pace.
The wellness session aids her health and wellbeing and in turn gives her family a break from their caring role, safe in the knowledge she is cared for and supported in her chosen activities.
Note- NO PERMISSION GIVEN TO SHARE.
Outcome
25 parents and young carers will have improved health and wellbeing, enabling them to continue providing care.
Results
The outcome was achived as between parents, young carers and siblings a total of 27 people have had improved health and wellbeing, enabling them to continue to provide care.
Families of the children and young people build up realtionships with the carer providing the care. This also provides a listening ear and support through the good and possibly harder more challenging times. Support is also provided to the families through the office. By having some time to themselves is is increasing their wellbeing, physically, mentally and emotionally. Knowing that the break is there and support is available goes a long way in enabling the carers to continue.
Outcome
9 children and young people with additional support needs and their families will feel less stressed and happier which will improve their wellbeing.
Results
The project achieved this outcome as 10 chldren and young people with additional support needs were supported to do an activity and in turn eased the stress on families, leading to them feeling happier and in turn improving their wellbeing.
Families felt supported, listened too, cared for, given the opportunity to have a break.