Short term breaks
Respite care is a break away from home for children with special needs. It also provides the opportunity for parents to have time for themselves and perhaps other members of the family.
Children's Disability Team (Bromley Social Services)
This team of social workers undertake assessments of need, give advice and coordinate packages of family support for severely disabled children.
The team and the Disability Resource Panel assess and monitor a child's eligibility for all services below unless otherwise stated.
Duty Social Worker: 020 8464 3333 Ext 4109
Short Term Breaks Away from Home
Family Support and Outreach Service
This service provides individual support to disabled children, enabling their parents to have a short break during the day.
Direct Payment Service
This is a scheme to assist parents of disabled children. Direct payments enable children to employ their own caring staff.
Bromley Mencap Childminding Network 020 8466 0790
These are registered childminders who have been trained to care for children with learning difficulties
Early Years Special Needs Network 020 8464 2897
This is a pilot initiative to train childminders to care for children on the autistic spectrum. Contact the Family Support Service at BAT.
Short Term Residential Breaks Away from Home
Bromley Social Services and Bromley PCT are providers of this service.
The Family Based Respite Scheme provides severely disabled children aged 2-8 years with short breaks with approved foster carers.
Bird in Hand is a residential unit that provides breaks for disabled children with complex care needs, often including the need for nursing intervention.
Saffron House provides short term breaks for children on the autistic spectrum with a learning disability and challenging behaviour. Residential short-term breaks are available for children from 8 years of age. After school tea visits and day visits during weekends and school holidays are available to younger children.
Sunrise is a residential unit which offers short term breaks for children and young people aged 8-18 with severe physical and/or learning disabilities.
There are plans to develop short-term residential respite at 143 Chislehurst Road which would replace services at Bird in Hand, Saffron House and Sunrise.