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Shared Care Network campaigns for good quality services. |
LATEST NEWS!!! Historic Announcement on short breaks The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign s celebrating as government propose to create a new duty on local authorities to help parents caring for disabled children by giving them breaks from their caring responsibilities.Find out more at the Every Disabled Child Matters website.Read More Aiming High Pathfinders Announced Education and Care Services Ministers Andrew Adonis and Ivan Lewis, have announced the start of a three-year transformation in short break services for disabled children. Twenty-one local areas will launch the first wave of a '��370m investment, that will extend to all of England from 2009. This major funding investment from Government will provide many more disabled children with enjoyable and valuable experiences away from their parents and carers. In turn parents and carers will have the well earned chance to take a break from caring. For further information, please download the press release and funding tables below (this document has been provided by the DCSF) DCSF Press Release 14th January 2008 Full information can be found on the AHDC programme implementation progress webpages. http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/disabledchildren/aiminghigh/progress/ Investment from Health promised A letter from DCSF Minister Lord Adonis and Health Minister Ivan Lewis MP, states that disabled children are 'at the heart of the Every Child Matters agenda' and confirms that 'new growth funding has been included in PCT baseline allocations to enable PCTs to work with local authorities to significantly increase the range and number of short breaks'. you can read more about this on the Every Disabled Child Matters website. READ MORE ON NHS INVESTMENT More funding for Short Breaks announced Shared Care Network, the national short breaks charity, has welcomed the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls announcement of further investment for short breaks of 90 million of capital funding. This funding builds on the '��280 million already announced for short break services in the Aiming High for Disabled Children review. News Release from Shared Care Network
More News from Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign This week, two key English government plans have been launched, covering children's services and the NHS. Both these plans have disabled children as a key priority group - the first time this has happened with such high-level, mainstream plans. For more detailed information please see the following EDCM news stories: The Children's Plan - nearly '��100 million more for short breaks and Family Fund grants Read More NHS operating framework - disabled children one of four local priority groups Read More Supporters in Wales can find out about progress for the Disabled Children Matter Wales campaign at Read More Discussions are ongoing in Scotland and Northern Ireland about how to improve services in those nations - we will keep you posted with news. EDCM are undertaking a supporter survey.This is a chance to tell them what you think about EDCM, the work we have done over the past 18 months and what you would like to see us focus on in 2008. News story: EDCM Supporter Survey Read More
More from EDCM News story: EDCM welcomes focus on SEN and disability in Childrens Plan Read More News story: Ed Balls announces nearly '��100 million more for disabled children Read More The Disabled Children (Family Support) Bill 2007 would introduce a specific duty on local authorities to provide appropriate short breaks for families with disabled children who provide a high level of care. The Bill applies to England and Wales. Find out how you can support the bill by clicking on the link below. Support the Bill A Square peg in a round hole Shared Care Network has written a briefing paper for the DCSF highlighting a number of barriers which might impede the implementation of the Aiming High short breaks programme for disabled children. The briefing outlines the main issues for schemes in each of these areas and makes recommendations for action. The DCSF are keen to ensure that, wherever possible they find solutions to these barriers and we hope they will take on a number of our recommendations. A copy of the briefing paper can be viewed here Some Background on Aiming High for Disabled Children The Government has announced major investment in short breaks services. The government has announced significant new investment ? '��340 million of new money over the next three years ? to improve services for disabled children and their families. The new funding is set to be allocated to key areas such as short breaks, childcare and transition to adulthood. * '��280 million of the new money will be allocated to short breaks * Government will support a parent forum in every local area to help shape services * The review has the full backing of both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown. News You can read more about the campaign at the campaign website www.edcm.org.uk Every Disabled Child Matters website. Shared Care Network campaigns on issues of policy and practice to ensure that government policy takes into account the very specific needs of disabled children and their families and the issues faced by short break schemes in delivering these services. We provide an information service to member schemes and promote good practice. Find the following Policy Information below:
- Shared Care Network 'Frequently Asked Questions' policy page read more
- Transport Guidance read more
- Short break care reviews and IRO's read more
- Direct Payments read more
- Key Facts & Figures about family based short break schemes read more
Transport GuidanceOne of the issues which is consistently raised as being a barrier to accessing short break services, particularly leisure and after-school activities is the lack of flexibility around transport. There have been two recent developments that Shared Care Network wished to bring to the attention of schemes that may assist when planning transport to support short break services.
Read More Read More HREF=http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_9449tr_32504593638418u69k_20082255937l>
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Short Break Care ReviewsDo reviews of regular short break care need to be chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer? We have received several queries regarding this issue recently. A note from DfES in April 2005 has clarified the situation and confirmed that children receiving short breaks under section 20 (or part VII) of the Children's Act 1989 must have their case reviewed by an Independant Reviewing Officer. For the entire briefing note from the DfES, click here to read more.
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Direct PaymentsThere is an excellent website which contains a frequently asked questions section on Direct Payments, a guide for parents and a guide for local councils. Please click here for more information.
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Key Facts and FiguresFor up to date information, please see our Creative Responses to Changing Needs? Fourth National Survey Executive Summary (Word) For more information please see our Still Waiting? Families of Disabled Children in the UK Waiting for Short Break Services - Full Report (Word)
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