What is Respite?
Respite care can be anything from someone coming into the home for a few hours to give a carer a break, to attending a day centre or a short break away from home for anything from a few nights to a fortnight.
If you care for someone you will need to take a break. Otherwise, you will likely become overworked, exhausted and even ill. This can mean that you are no longer able to care at all! Breaks from caring are essential. A break gives you time to recover, be yourself and do what you want to do.
Who can access respite care?
Anyone who undertakes a caring role for a friend or relative who is an older person or has a learning or physical disability or suffers a mental health problem may be able to access respite care services.
Who decides you are able to access these services?
Respite needs should be identified via an assessment under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, which includes assessments of carers’ needs under the Carers Recognition & Services Act 1995. Your care manager will carry out this assessment. You should contact your allocated care manager and discuss your respite needs.
What do you do if you don’t have an allocated Care Manager?
If you do not have an allocated care manager you should, in the first instance you should contact West Berkshire Social Services Community Care Enquiry Centre on 0845 601 4726
How do you go about getting respite care?
You can make your own arrangements for respite care to suit you and your family. However, a suitable facility can be difficult to find and there are significant cost implications. Most people need support in finding and paying for respite care at some point. Depending on your needs, respite care may be included in your care plan. The type and frequency of respite will be determined by the needs of both carer and cared for, availability of respite care services and local policies. However, while local authorities have the power to provide respite services, there is no statutory obligation to do so. Eligibility and charges for respite care vary depending on local authority policy and resources are often prioritised
Costs & Funding
Social services may pay for some or most of your respite care costs. This will be determined by a financial assessment and by local policy. You may have to pay (or contribute to) the costs yourself. Your local health service may also be able to help with the costs of respite care depending on your level of health needs. This will depend on the local agreement between health and social services, and whether you qualify for continuing care funding.
Direct Payments
Direct Payments are available for respite care and can speed up the process of booking, as well as making it more versatile.
Link to our page about direct payments
It may also be difficult to find respite care suitable for your age group and personal care needs, and it is helpful if you can identify somewhere yourself to suggest. (See our links) However, if you choose a place that is more expensive than the provider social services would normally use, you will be required to find a third party to pay the difference in cost.
Remember that while you may consider respite care to be your 'holiday', social services will often have a fairly narrow view of the purpose of respite e.g. to give the carer a break, and will perhaps refuse to support a break which includes the carer(s).
Appeals
If you are turned down for respite and are not happy about this, every statutory authority has a complaints procedure, which will include the right to appeal the decision. Information on how to complain will be available if you ask your care manager.
Respite in the Home
Children's Respite Care Scheme - West Berkshire
Shared care scheme for families caring for a child who has physical and/or learning disability and who need an occasional break from their duties. A respite carer is linked to the family to share the care by having the child to visit, or to stay overnight in the respite carer's home.
Opening Hours Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm
Cost of Service Some small charges if the child stays away overnight.
Children with Disabilities Team, Social Services
Avonbank House
West Street
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 1BZ
Telephone: 01635 46545
Fax Number: 01635 503408
Eligibility - Children with Learning or physical disabilities.
How to Apply: Via CTPLD or Social Services
Newbury & District CROSSROADS
Crossroads provides respite and support for carers (regular planned care or an occasional break). It is a flexible service: weekly, monthly or to give extra help during holidays. Care attendants work any time, any day of the year, and occasionally all night.
Jayne Taylor - Organiser
Arcade House, The Arcade, Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Berkshire. RG14 5AD
Telephone: 01635 30008
Fax Number: 01635 48573
E-Mail: newburycrossroads@tiscali.co.uk.
Opening Hours Monday - Friday variable (Answerphone if not manned).
Cost of Service Free. Open to all.
How to Apply: By phone or by email.
Brambles
Respite Care for People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Kay Croll
Suffolk Close
Massetts Road
Horley
Surrey
RH6 7DU
Telephone: 01293 771644
Fax Number: 01293 784478
E-Mail: enquires@brambles.org.uk
Brambles is a modern, purpose built respite care centre for the physically less able. Qualified nursing staff on site for 24 hours/day. All dietary needs catered for. Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy inclusive. Aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga, etc. Priority given to MS sufferers.
Cost of Service On application.
Open to people with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
How to Apply: By phone, email or post
Jigsaw Residential Respite, Autism - Reading
Jigsaw Respite Services
77 Russell Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 7XG
Telephone: 0118 939 3623
Alternative Telephone:
Minicom Number:
Fax Number: 0118 959 5795
Jigsaw Respite Care Services works in partnership with the person with special needs, their families and other professionals to provide quality respite care services that meet the needs of both the person and family.
Opening Hours Normal office/Appointments.
Cost of Service Varied.
Eligibility For anyone with Autism.
Download a pdf file of lots of places you could use for respite, produced by the HFT Family Carer Support Service.
Click Respite Links below for places you can go on respite. These links are only suggestions and are not to be considered recommendations.
