Short breaks: Children with disabilities

As a Short Breaks' carer, you will provide a safe and fun environment for children and young people with disabilities in your own home.

Our service aims to offer a safe, positive home-from-home experience to children and young people where they can try new activities, develop their independence skills, and have fun in another family environment. Short Breaks’ carers also help families get a much-needed break to recharge their batteries.

Each short break is for at least 24 hours, often two nights. These can be weekends, midweeks and school holidays. Some carers will do this as a full-time role. Others will do smaller chunks of short breaks.

Short Breaks' carers offer children and young people with disabilities a safe, meaningful and enjoyable experience with another family. To care for a child with disabilities can be very rewarding but takes an extra level of skill and commitment. There are even fewer foster families available in the UK who are able to do this.

The children and young people who come on our Short Breaks are referred to us by local authorities. The children have a range of disabilities and complex needs. These include neurodiversity, physical disabilities, sensory needs, and other medical conditions. Once we’ve received a referral, we work hard to find the right match between a child and carer. We’ll organise a short introductory meet-up and then gradually increase the length of visits until everyone’s ready for an overnight stay.

Action for Children Fostering will make sure that all of our Short Breaks' carers are given the training and 24/7 support and advice they need to manage a child or young person's disability and health needs.