Quarriers Break-a-way Project - information for professionals

The ethos
The service
The children and young people
Short break carers - recruitment and approval
Management, training, supervision and support for carers
Referrals to the project
Matching and introductions
Reviews
Support to fathers
The Befriending Project

Since September 1999 Quarriers Break-a-way Project, in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council has developed family based short breaks for children and young people with significant disabilities throughout the region. The project is funded by the Education and Community Services Department. The team comprises a Project Manager, 2 full time equivalent Social Workers and 2 Office Administrators.

The ethos
The Project is striving towards developing an ‘inclusive culture’ at every level in its work with children, parents, carers and others. We work to National Standards and regulations relating to Foster Care and benchmark our practice against similar projects through national networking.

The project is registered as a Fostering Service with the Care Commission.

The service
Quarriers Break-a-way Project is a region wide scheme providing family based short breaks for disabled children and young people, from birth to age 18. Foster Carers, approved as short break carers, provide support in their own home, offering planned, regular breaks. A short break can be anything from an overnight, a weekend to a full week. The average level of support is 29 overnights per year equating to 2 overnight visits a month and a week during the summer holiday period.

The children and young people
The Project supports children and young people with significant disabilities, the majority have learning disabilities and in addition some children also have physical disabilities, hearing or sight problems. A significant number of children are diagnosed within the Autistic Spectrum and some children have complex medical needs arising from illness or deteriorating conditions.

Short break carers - recruitment and approval
Carers are approved by the Fostering Panel as Foster Carers providing short breaks. Following a period of preparation, references, police/local authority checks and medicals are required. A Project Worker works with applicants to prepare a detailed report (similar to the BAAF F Form) for the Foster Panel. The processes involved are very similar to those used in Fostering and Adoption. Foster Carers are not employed and do not receive payment – they are skilled, trained volunteers.

Management, training, supervision and support to carers
All Short Break Carers have a Project Worker who acts as a link with parents, social workers and the project. Carers have regular supervision and ongoing training is offered to enable individuals to enhance and develop their skills and knowledge. Specific training for children with medical needs is offered by the Children’s Community Nursing Team. Short Break Carers and their children are invited to attend family support groups where people can share and learn from each other. An Art Workshop for carers children provides an opportunity for them to raise and work through issues as ‘young carers’ An ‘out of hours’ telephone contact for carers provides additional support. An allowance is given and, where funding allows, essential items and specialist equipment are provided.

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Referrals to the project
Referrals are made to the Project by Social Workers through the Children with Disability Team. Parents, Professionals and others are welcome to make informal contact with the project.

Matching and introductions
Careful matching of children and carers is carried out by the Project, in consultation with the Children with Disability Team and others. Introductions take place at the child’s pace. Project Workers spend time with the child or young person helping parents prepare them for placement and writing their Personal Passport, which contains essential information for the carer.

Reviews
Short Break Carers are reviewed on an annual or 6 month basis. Children who are supported overnight are reviewed under ‘Looked After Children’ guidelines. Young people who have daytime support or befriending are monitored and reviewed by the Project.

What else do we do?

Support to fathers
Since the project started we have been increasingly aware of how marginalised the fathers of disabled children appear to be. Recent research confirms how important Fathers are to the education, emotional wellbeing and outcomes for children. Some Fathers expressed an interest in coming together and in 2002 the Project was successful in securing funding from the local Carers Strategy Group to develop a Fathers Group. Initially piloted in Dumfries, the group is open to all fathers of disabled children and young adults and is now established in Dumfries, Stranraer and Upper Nithsdale.

The Befriending Project
In 2005 we started a pilot Befriending Project for disabled teenagers, aged 12-18, in the East of the region. The Project offers a good alternative to those young people who need a different kind of service and helps teenagers learn independent living skill and access social and leisure opportunities.

Please feel free to make contact with us so that we can share more information with you.