Success of short breaks programme for Shropshire’s vulnerable children

A pilot programme of short breaks for vulnerable children and those on the ‘edge of care’ has helped to prevent 34 children being taken into local authority care, and resulted in a potential saving for Shropshire Council of more than £1million.

Since June 2014 a ‘planned’ short breaks facility has been provided at Havenbrook children’s home for children who had been identified as in need and at risk of family breakdown. In September 2014 the provision of ‘crisis’ short breaks was incorporated into the pilot.

The aim of the short breaks programme is to give time out to a young person and their family, with the aim of keeping the family unit together where it is safe and in the child’s interests, preventing the need for a young person to be taken into local authority care.

Since the start of the pilot last June, 42 young people have received either single or multiple short breaks. Of the 29 young people who have received or are receiving planned short breaks, only two have been taken into local authority care.

Of the 13 young people who received a crisis short break, only six went on to be received into local authority care, six went home to parental care and one moved into a 16+ supported living arrangement.

The cost of a four-day crisis break at Havenbrook is £1074, a saving of more than £2900 for each placement when compared to the cost of local authority care.

And providing planned breaks for 27 children has achieved a potential saving of just over £1million, compared to the cost of providing residential placements.

A report on the pilot short breaks programme was presented to Shropshire Council’s children and young people’s scrutiny committee this week.

Following the success of the pilot, councillors have agreed that Havenbrook should continue to provide short breaks for children and young people on ‘the edge of care’.

Councillor Joyce Barrow, Chair of the scrutiny committee said:

“It is wonderful to hear the success of this pilot, and the difference that these short breaks are making to vulnerable young people and their families.

“Keeping children out of local authority care whenever possible is much better for the young person and their family, but also saves the council a significant amount of money.

“We believe that our short breaks programme is one of the first of its kind in the country, and other councils have already contacted us asking for more information.”

Tina Russell, head of children’s social care with Shropshire Council, said:

“The development of our short breaks programme has been part of a wider review of our residential care resources. Although, as part of this review, the closure of one children’s homes is being planned, it is also proposed to create four new posts for residential workers to work directly with young people and their families in the community. This will give us more options to support families and use our resources to best value and to achieve better outcomes for children.”

To read the committee report and evaluation of the pilot, click here.

Further information

1. The short break provision was provided to children and families as part of Targeted Early Help or Child in Need plans.

2. During this pilot period 29 parents used the ‘planned breaks’ service and each was asked to complete an evaluation form. Responses were positive and a few examples are given below:

“Having the short breaks has enabled me to take the other children swimming and play games with them something that had previously been difficult. My daughter said that she really enjoyed her break; she said she felt happy and safe and the staff team are lovely.”

“My son having short breaks has enabled us as a family to have time to think, going through this process has enabled us to liaise with other agencies to get the support we need to improve things. Short breaks has given us all ‘breathing space’.”

“It has been wonderful for us, when our grandson has been on his short breaks. I have been able to tidy his bedroom, spend time with his siblings and it is ‘quiet’, which has been nice. It has allowed us to catch up, chill out and recharge the batteries. We are happy with the whole process and don’t think there is any need to make any changes to the way things are done. Our grandson said that he thinks the staff are ‘cool’ and they take him to all different places. ‘Thank you to everyone’.”