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Critical features of short break and community support services to families and disabled young people whose behaviour is severely challenging
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, GENT Clare, SCOWCROFT Emma
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 15(4), December 2011, pp.252-268.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Short break services are commonly provided as a support to families with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour, although many of these services have not been adapted to children with complex needs. The aim this article is to describe the essential features of a successful short break and community support service run in 3 UK cities by Action for Children for families with children who have developmental disabilities and severely challenging behaviours. In total, 123 families accessed the services in the period 2008-2010, with 63 children receiving residential short breaks only, 23 receiving community support only, and 37 receiving both forms of support. The model was documented and validated through several methods including individual and group interviews with around 30 different stakeholders. The services are embedded within multi-agency partnerships between Action for Children and a wider service network which includes learning disability teams and child and adolescent mental health service teams. Four particular features of the model are highlighted: the values and ethos underpinning the service; the service procedures; the organisation of short breaks; and the role of an intensive support/outreach service. The rationale for complex service models is discussed and the key lessons for replicating this model are reviewed.
Working out of the box: an evaluation of short breaks and intensive support services to families and disabled young people whose behaviour is severely challenging: summary report
- Author:
- McCONKEY Roy
- Publisher:
- Action for Children
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 46p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This summary report brings together the main findings from an evaluation of three Action for Children services in Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh. These services provide specialist short breaks and intensive support services to families and learning disabled young people with severely challenging behaviours. The report provides a literature review and a detailed analysis of the model of service that has evolved at the three locations. An overview of staff employed by the services shows that most have some form of higher qualification and access to regular training. Families using the service tend to be from poor backgrounds, with many being lone parent families, and many living in rented accommodation and dependent on benefits. More boys than girls accessed the services. Most were teenagers and most attended special schools, with many also being diagnosed with autism. About a quarter were dependent on others for feeding, dressing and toileting. Key workers rated the changes in children and families over the preceding six months and reported that a sizeable proportion had shown some improvements in communication and personal care. Interviews with stakeholders involved with a sample of children revealed a very positive evaluation of the services. The children benefitted from participating in a range of activities, but their social inclusion remains limited. The report concludes with recommendations on the future developments of these services.