The Specialist Children’s Short Breaks Service provides overnight short breaks for children and young people aged 4 to 19 years old with severe learning disabilities and other complex needs such as complex health, physical disabilities and behaviours that challenge.
During the stays, the children and young people have the opportunity to have fun with peers completing activities inside and outside the unit, the staff support them to gain independence and reach their full potential. Caring, positive relationships are developed between staff and children and their families.
The service provides parents with the opportunity to take a break from their caring role, recharge their batteries and spend quality time with siblings. This helps to prevent family breakdown.
The team consists of a mixture of registered learning disability nurses and Healthcare Support Workers all with great knowledge, training and experience.
Person-centred approaches and positive behaviour support underpins our values.
Referrals are made via a Joint Multi-Agency Respite Resource Panel if the child lives in Staffordshire, and the Multi-Agency Short Breaks Forum in Stoke-on-Trent. This is coordinated and chaired by local authority social care services. Referrals can be made to this panel by professionals involved with the child/young person and their family, but usually by the social worker.
Dragon Square Community Unit, 1 Dragon Square, Chesterton, ST5 7HL
My child is looked after with care and understanding while maintaining her dignity and happiness. Nothing is ever too much trouble. My child enjoys attending Dragon Square and although she's non-verbal, this is obvious as she's so calm and happy when she returns home/to school. The care, compassion and cheery disposition of each of the staff is clearly evident and appreciated. s a parent of an additional needs child, it's both refreshing and relieving to not worry about her when she's here.
The care is outstanding in every way. Just a huge thank you for everything.
Friendly and very kind staff. Understanding the difficulties of parents of a disabled child and accommodating requests where possible. Very supportive. It's an excellent service where we have managed our mental wellbeing and able to connect with my other child which was impossible prior to this service. Can't explain my gratitude in words.
All the staff are very friendly, caring and have my child's best interest at heart. My daughter loves her stays and is able to enjoy some independence away from home. They take her out into the community to enjoy the normal things in life, the park, meals out, etc. It feels like a home not an institution, we are all welcomed. Keep up the fabulous work you do. We are lucky to have you in our lives. Thank you for the support you give us as a family.
The carers are so friendly and supportive. They really understand the pain of us parents very well. I am so very happy with the service. Especially not having any families of our own in this country, I felt so lonely and helpless before this service. Our lives changed for good after we found our angels.