Shared Care Scheme for Children
The Shared Care Scheme for children provides short breaks for children with disabilities and a rest for parents, by linking them with a local person or family who can care for children on a regular basis. Valuable support and friendships are also discovered by everyone taking part. The Scheme currently has over twenty carers, linked with more than thirty children.
The children benefit by developing new interests, experiences and independence skills.
How the scheme works
It provides the family with respite from the stresses and strains of caring, providing parents with the opportunity to spend time with other children or to have a good night's sleep.
The scheme recruits, approves and trains families and single people to be carers for children with disabilities. The carers undergo a full assessment over a minimum of 4 months.
We have carers who provide care in their home, or in the child's home, or by taking the child on outings. The care can be day time or overnight. Often the pattern is that a child may go to a family for day care regularly for several months before first trying an overnight stay.
Depending on need, some children have care once a week for a day or a half day, some once a fortnight, some have an overnight stay once a fortnight, some stay for a full weekend once a month. Sometimes the arrangement is that the care is increased in school holidays. Carers are paid a small fee but there is no charge to the child's family.
There is a waiting list of children referred for a shared care link, so it is not a solution to emergencies but a long term plan. Matching a child with the right carers is very important for a successful link so the waiting list is not on a 'first come first served' basis. There is a constant need to recruit new shared carers as new children are referred.
The approval process
The approval process for the Shared Care Scheme for children follows a similar process as for foster parents whether the applicant is offering day care or overnight care to children.
Initial Enquiry
To register your interest in becoming a children's shared carer for us, please download and return the children's shared carer enquiry form.
Statutory Checks
With permission, we contact a variety of agencies, including the police, to ask whether they know anything that would make the applicant unsuitable to care for children with disabilities.
We ask you to complete an employment record, have a medical examination (by your own G.P) and provide two references.
Preparation Course
You need to attend a preparation course, which is four evening sessions. The course covers:
- Disability
- Child abuse
- First aid
- Providing care in your own home.
Parents, current shared carers and professionals all contribute to the course and gives prospective carers a chance to think about the issues involved.
Social Worker's Report
The social worker will talk to you about your experience, interests and background. He/she will then write a report for the foster panel making their recommendations.
How long does approval take?
We aim to complete the process in 4-6 months but it may take longer.
Linking carers with children
When linking people together a number of factors are considered. The carer's:
- Experience
- Interests
- Family circumstances
- Available time
The child's:
- Age
- Abilities
- Hobbies
- Behaviour
- Religion and culture
- Needs
- Child's wishes
Parents' preferences are also taken into consideration.
Introductions are taken at the child's pace, to ensure they feels comfortable and secure. Once the amount of care per month has been agreed, parents and carer arrange specific dates between them, as long as the hours fit within the maximum agreed.
Contact Details
For more information on Shared Care for children in Poole please contact us at:
Poole Shared Care Scheme
Child Health and Disability Team (CAYPIS)
Borough of Poole
The Dolphin Centre
Poole
Dorset
BH15 1SA
Tel: 01202 714640
Further information is available from the Shared Care Network, a national organisation that promotes family-based short breaks for disabled children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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