Short Breaks - Brokerage Service - Support to access the Creative Breaks service and participation into universal services

Descriptions

The Short Break Individual Payment service (known as Creative Breaks) looks to increase the social opportunities to disabled children, young people and their families. The service enables disabled children and young people to make friends, participate in events and take a short break from their families. This gives disabled children and young people the same opportunities to develop and fulfil their potential as all other children. The service provides a payment to enable disabled children, young people and their families to overcome barriers to accessing a short break. The service must provide a break for parents/cares from their caring responsibilities. The service is open to disabled children and young people who have high or middle-rate Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (Standard or Enhanced). The child or young person must reside in Cheshire West and Chester. The service works as part of a suite of short breaks services to increase the number of disabled children and young people receiving a meaningful, flexible, responsive, bespoke and individualised service to reduce the need for families to access social care services. Service Delivery •Deliver the services to a minimum of 290 children and young people per year •Provide guidance (provided by Cheshire West and Chester) on-line for families explaining how the funding can be accessed and the type of short breaks which will be eligible for funding. •Provide an on-line application form. The form will enable families to detail the short break they want to access for the year and the costs of those activities that funding can be spent on but also what it can't be spent on. The submitted application should be clear on the cost of the short breaks they want to access and the cost per session. If families do not have access to on-line facilities paper copies can be provided. In the event the family requires additional support the form can be completed face to face/ over the telephone. •Check eligibility for the service and ensure the requirements of the 'Know your Customer' policy are adhered to. •As a Super User on the All-Pay system manage the card details and load the agreed payment onto the card and issue - maximum amount £1,000 per annum •On a monthly basis, undertake an audit of 10% of card usage against the previously agreed amounts. If funds are being used for any expenditure which has not been previously agreed, investigate what funds have been used for and if necessary, liaise with CWAC Transactional Services to recover money. •If necessary, take steps to suspend the card. •Liaise with Children with Disabilities Team on a regular basis to ensure opportunities within the Creative Breaks service are explored for families supported by the team. •Develop a robust communication plan to ensure eligible families are aware of the service and know how to access it. •Identify any additional needs of the family and signpost to the most appropriate agency.