Short Break Care

Short Break Fostering is extremely important to the wellbeing of many families and can make a real difference to children’s lives. Short Break Care is also referred to as Share the Care, Short Break and Respite Fostering. We need skilled Short Break Foster Carers to support families and children in South Gloucestershire.

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Why are Short Break Carers needed?

Children and young people with disabilities or special educational needs may need a break from their caregiver. Or their caregiver may need a break from their caring responsibilities to recharge their batteries.

Short breaks give disabled children and young people the chance to make new friends, take part in activities and have fun in a different environment. Parents get a chance to unwind, pursue leisure activities and spend time with other children and family members.

Who can be a Short Break Carer?

You don’t need any special qualifications. If you have experience and skills in looking after young people with a range of different needs, including severe physical and behavioural difficulties associated with disability, then you could make a real difference to a young person and their family.

As well as being over the age of 21, our short break carers need to have:

• Patience
• Energy
• The ability to deal with challenging situations
• The ability to build relationships with children and their families
• A spare bedroom

There is an expectation that short break carers attend a range of mandatory training. Other training is available to meet specific children needs such as communicating with disabled children, moving and handling, epilepsy and autism.

Who needs Short Break Care?

Children who require short break fostering may have physical, emotional and or behavioural difficulties that they will need you to manage and support them with.

What they all have in common is their need for a regular break with people they can look forward to seeing and who are able to care for them, whilst their family has a break.

Share the Care

In this video below Social Worker Jackie, talks about Share the Care, our Short Break Fostering programme.

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What does a Foster Carer do?

South break carers offer a regular enjoyable break for some of South Gloucestershire’s children and their families for at least one weekend per month. Short break fostering involves working closely with the parent or full-time carer.

Short break placements paly a really crucial role in supporting children and their families. They’re an opportunity to have the dedicated time and energy to involve the child or children in different experiences and opportunities which they may not have access to in their everyday home.

Why foster with us?

As a short break carer with South Gloucestershire Council, you will become a valued member of our team, working with children, young people and their families to make a real difference to their lives.

By joining our team, you will benefit from:

• Your own, dedicated supporting social worker, who will regularly be in touch and available to support you throughout your fostering journey.
• An extensive training and development programme offering you the opportunity to develop your skills in supporting children and young people.
• Competitive financial support.
• A 24-hour support line, seven days a week.
• Therapeutic support from our WAYPOINT team.
• A network of support from experienced foster carers, including monthly support groups and mentoring scheme.
• Support for birth children and foster children from our Foster Carers and Children’s Support Team.
• Regular activities and events for the whole family.
• A variety of discounts and benefits from venues across the UK.