Summary of Context
As a small Unitary Authority, Slough struggles to resource specialist
respite provision for disabled children. With a multi-racial community,
meeting cultural and disability issues is particularly difficult.
Slough has tackled this in a number of ways.
Good Practice
A partnership scheme enabled Slough to re-provide residential provision
for disabled adults with a series of small units, much of which was
supported living provision. Included in the complex for disabled children,
was a small residential unit with substantial indoor and external
play and activity facilities. This works jointly with a health funded
service to enable children with a full range of physical and learning
disabilities to access respite. Staffing arrangements are such that
a large percentage of respite is provided after school, at weekends
and during holidays. Outreach support was being developed at the time
of the Joint Review.
The Authority also funds a local community group to provide a range
of respite and support activities to disabled children and their families
from a mainly Gujarati community.
Benefits
Relatively low use of residential respite.
Substantial numbers of disabled children and their families
supported in the community at relatively low cost to the Authority.