An open session where people can find out how they can get involved with providing short breaks for disabled children is taking place in Carlisle next Tuesday (18 March).
The information session follows week's national Share The Care Week, which highlights the need for people to give a little time, but make a really big difference by giving families with disabled children a regular break from caring.
Shared Care is a nationwide scheme. Carers usually look after children with a disability for a weekend, a holiday or occasional overnight stays. The national Shared Care Network is aiming to double the number of disabled children in the UK able to benefit from short breaks. This would mean 20 thousand disabled children getting regular breaks by the year 2012.
The open session on Tuesday is at 15 Portland Square in Carlisle. It offers an opportunity for people to find out more about being a shared carer. Shared carers and social workers will be on hand to answer questions from 10am until 12.30pm. To go along to the open session, people need to book a place with the county council's fostering service.
It is planned for the drop in session to become a regular event, taking place in different parts of the county.
The short breaks offered under Shared Care are not one off holidays, but regular opportunities for families with disabled children to take a break from the demands of caring. At the same time their disabled child enjoys spending time with short break carers and doing the things that other,, non-disabled children often take for granted.
Gail is a shared carer in the north of the county. She said:
"As a shared carer, I think I get as much out of looking after the children as they and their parents hopefully do.
"For me it has been a learning process, getting to know each child and their parents. I have always been able to get help when I needed it - I have been into school met with physios, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, all of of whom have been willing to give me their time to help me understand a particular child's needs and how to help them.
"I meet friends and acquaintances when I am out and about with the children, and some of them say they would like to do what I do but don't think they could. I wonder if some people are frightened because they think they couldn't' cope with a child's particular problem, whereas they probably do have all the attributes, plus the ability to learn a few new skills.
Anne Hood, Cumbria County Council's Fostering Service Manager, said:
"The aim of the Shared Care scheme is to match children with carers on a regular basis so that the child's trust and confidence is built up. In this way the child benefits from making new friends and having different experiences, and the carer and their family have their lives enriched by the experience of caring for a child.
"Whilst caring for this child the parents have a break perhaps to spend some time with their other children or simply to recharge their batteries."
Shared care is for children under the age of 18 years with disabilities, and their parents. Carers don't need expertise or experience with disability. Training, support and encouragement are provided by our team and the child's parents. The approval and training process takes roughly 3 to 6 months and involves interviews with social workers and police, medical checks and the taking up of references.
Carers and their families are carefully matched with the disabled child. Depending on the needs of the child, the suitability of the host family's accommodation may also need to be considered. Carers receive a contribution to their costs and expenses.
For more information about local schemes, or to book a place at the open session please call 01228 607078.
End
Further information from Alison Lister, Media Team, on 01228 606335