Provision of Short Break Respite Services at Falconwood Centre

the London Borough of Bexley has a commitment to continue to deliver its short break services for children and young people with complex disabilities at Falconwood Children’s Home (residential short break centre). Short breaks are a term used to refer to a range of services for disabled children, many of which used to be known as respite. The legislation in England requires local authorities to provide family carers’ of disabled children with breaks so that they can continue to care. The Children with Disabilities Service in Bexley recently carried out a comprehensive consultation exercise with parents/carers in Bexley with children and young people with disabilities. The team performed a thematic analysis of data obtained from interviews and surveys. The analysis revealed that short breaks were crucial in helping parents with children with disabilities to continue to provide care and they were used in other ways that addressed the wider consequences of caring. These other uses include