CS109 - Reduction in Short Break funding for children with disabilities

Overview

Outline of Proposal

Rochdale Council provides Short Breaks to children and young people with a disability and/or complex health needs in a variety of ways.

One of the ways that children and young people can access a short break is through parents and carers applying directly for places that are offered through the Short Break Matrix.

The short breaks listed on the current matrix are due to end on 31^st March 2016. We are now in the process of recommissioning short breaks for 2016- 2017.

We are currently proposing a £50,000 cut in the funding for short breaks listed on the matrix.

 It has been identified that this reduction in funding can be made without reducing the actual number of overall short break sessions on offer to children and young people. 

General Impact

We are working with parents, carers, children and young people about what the new short breaks offer should include, in order for it to offer the best range of opportunities for children and young people.

It is envisaged that there will be some changes to what is available in terms of short breaks, this will be as a result of consultation with parents, carers, children and young people - it will not be a reduction of overall short break capacity.

Impact on Service Users

Whilst there is a proposed cut of £50,000 to the short breaks, it has been identified that this can be achieved without reducing the actual number of overall short break sessions on offer to children and young people.

Children and young people will continue to have the opportunity to access a range of short break provision which has been commissioned in consultation with children, young people and their parents/carers.

Savings Total:  £50,000 on-going saving in 2016/17

You can find the full proposal document, which includes the Equality Impact Assessment, below in the related documents section.