Together for Disabled Children

TDC has agreed with DCSF to produce a number of products which address key challenges faced by local areas in developing short breaks. From now until the end of July we are working with local authority, PCT and TDC colleagues to develop practical products which provide advice and examples on the following areas: 

• Transforming Short Breaks Services (adapted from 'Hit the Ground Running)  - published below
• How to Implement a Successful Short Breaks Programme - published below
• Short Breaks Learning Sets - published below
• Capital Programme Planning and Practice - published below
• Transforming Short Breaks Services: What information Do We Need and How Should We Use It? - published below
• An Outcomes framework for short breaks - published below
• Developing the market for short breaks - published below
• Developing the short breaks workforce - published below
• Eligibility Framework 
• Effective working between Health and LAs  (two products) - one published below, the other coming soon
• Personalisation - inc. supporting parents with Direct Payments - due to be published during October 2009
• Coherent management of the Programme and effective business processes - due to be published during October 2009

If you have any good practice examples on the above topics which you think would be useful to share with other colleagues, or would like to be involved with the development of these products, please send your information and contact details to mail@togetherfdc.co.uk.

Transforming Short Breaks: What information do we need and how should we use it? - Version 1.1 June 2009   This product gives an overview of the importance of data, information and knowledge collection to drive transformation of short breaks services. It explores of some of the challenges faced by short breaks programme teams, potential solutions and some examples of how data collection and analysis is being used to transform the development of short breaks services.   This document is intended for Change agents in local areas; Aiming High programme development leads; data collection analysts; commissioners of short breaks (Local Authority and Primary Care Trusts); and Disabled Children Service managers. It is also of interest to professionals delivering and working in the field of disabilities.

Short Breaks Capital Programme: Planning and Practice - Version 1.0 May 2009   This product contains a set of prompts to support the capital planning process, including strategic planning, partnerships, project management and tendering and procurement. These are illustrated by a variety of case studies.   It provides quick guidance and examples on use of capital within the Short breaks programme. It is intended to supplement the normal guidance contained in the Aiming High for Disabled Children Short Breaks Implementation Guidance (DCSF, 2008), along with the Memorandum of Grant (Feb 2009) and any local authority/PCT polices and procedures.

	Short Break Learning Sets - Version 1.0 May 2009 This product presents the insights and learning from each of the seven Short Break Learning Sets at the start of the Short Breaks programme. Each flyer sets the focus, key learning, the ‘top tips’ and some case studies or examples of practice from local areas It can be used by commissioners and providers as a source of ideas and approaches to develop services, and as a stimulus for discussion about the issues covered by the learning sets. It will also be of interest to parents and young people as a means of understanding and engaging with local authorities and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) as they seek to transform short breaks.
All Short Breaks Learning Sets (to print whole product)
Introduction	Aiming High for Disabled Children short breaks programme.
Learning Set 1	Developing the use of direct payments for short breaks.
Learning Set 2	Understanding the short break requirements of disabled children and their parents.
Learning Set 3	Improved commissioning. Click on the following links for further details on the case studies within this LS3 document: Sutton, Bolton, Dudley.
Learning Set 4	Building the short break workforce.
Learning Set 5	Securing short break provision for severely disabled children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and challenging behaviour. Click here for further details on Nottinghamshire's 'Training for Contract Carers' case study that is noted within the LS5 document.
Learning Set 6	Securing short break provision for severely disabled children and young people with complex health needs and moving and handling needs. Click here for further details on Dorset's 'Obtaining the views of children who communicate non-verbally' case study that is noted in the LS6 document.

LAIMP Guidance to support completion - Updated June 2009   This guidance will assist local areas in completing their local Area Implemetation Plan (LAIMP).  The guidance addresses key queries that LAs have raised via TDC Local Programme Advisors and regional events.      New LAIMP templates have recently been returned to local area leads.   If you have comments about the structure or content of the guidance or LAIMP please contact us at support@togetherfdc.co.uk clearly marking the title 'suggestions for improvement to LAIMP guidance'.

Transforming Short Break Services - March 2009   This guide sets out the context in which short break services have developed, and some key information about both the users and providers of these services. There are references to emerging practice throughout this publication. Local areas are encouraged to make use of the TDC website to keep up to date with new ideas or submit their own case studies.   This guide has been adapted from How to ‘hit the ground running’ in transforming short break services written by Jeanne Carlin and Jan Morrison for Together for Disabled Children in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children. It has been developed to support local areas in delivering the short breaks transformation programme.

 

Readiness Criteria Standards - February 2009   This guidance has been written to support local areas in assessing their status towards meeting the readiness criteria for the Short Breaks and Parent Participation programmes.