Decision details

Section 25 of the Children and Young Persons Act requires local authorities to provide Short Breaks for families with disabled children. This is set out in the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 (or Short Breaks Regulations 2011), which require local authorities to
do three things:
? To ensure that, when making short break provision, they have regard to the needs of
different types of carers, not just those who would be unable to continue to provide care
without a break;
? To provide a range of short breaks, as appropriate, during the day, night, at weekends
and during the school holidays; and
? To provide parents with a short breaks services statement detailing the range of available breaks and any eligibility criteria attached to them.

Following part of the Short Breaks Service Review, and through recent market engagement research. It was found that there is a limited amount of providers offering Short Break activities regularly, leaving less choice for SEND young people. The need for the Capital Grant to support new providers to register as a provider on the DPS will add extra value and sustainability to deliver additional activities for this cohort.

Following the original approved decision to proceed with the 50K Short Breaks Capital Grantfund, which supported the Local Offer and statutory duty to provide Short Breaks, and to
improve range, capacity and availability of activities across the borough. Funds were awarded as agreed by panel for successful bids. Totalling £36718.60, with an underspend of £13,281.40. (Original ODR 1718171).

Option 1 (preferred) – to release the 2020/21 50K Short Breaks Capital Fund, to fund the 6 successful applications from 2019/20 and to further increase market development within 2020/21.

Option 2 – To fund the successful applicants only and release £13,281.40 of the 2020/21 Capital
Grant scheme.

Option 3 – To do nothing.