Decision details

The proposal to continue to commission the majority of Short Breaks provision from Riverside School via an internal Service Level Agreement be endorsed.

Since 1 April 2011 the Local Authority has had a legal duty to provide Short Breaks to those assessed as being eligible for such provision, and the duty extends to the Local Authority providing an appropriate and relevant range and choice of short break services as deemed necessary by way of consultation with stakeholders, including service users.

The Short Breaks service provided at Riverside School consists of a group provision which typically provides for up to 60 attendees at each session. There are 70 contracted sessions (days) covering Saturdays and school holidays, with each session providing 6 hours of Short Break provision.  150 children and young people access the provision, aged from 5 to 18. Each child will receive 18 days of provision per annum on average while those with the most complex needs may receive up to a maximum of 70 days.

Bromley’s Disabled Young Advisers Group carried out an evaluation of the Riverside Short Breaks provision in Summer 2011 and rated the provision very highly, judging it to meet the needs of service users more than adequately.  It was rated as ‘highly valued’ by parents and carers.