Tender: Short Breaks Community Activity Groups for Children and Young People with SEND – Cheshire West and Chester Council

About

Cheshire West and Chester Council is seeking a supplier for community-based short breaks activity groups that deliver outcome-focused, person-centred services for disabled children and young people with SEND and provide practical support to their carers. The service should support carers with their caring responsibilities, link into a child or young person's Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan where appropriate, give families control over how they access and use short breaks, and prioritise the experience and perspective of children, young people and parents/carers when designing and delivering activities. Providers must offer opportunities for children and young people to learn new skills, make friends, build confidence and independence, and reduce loneliness, while aiming to reduce escalation to statutory services and maximising use of specialist resources and universal community services. Short Breaks may take place in a child’s home, the home of an approved carer, or community settings such as local sports clubs, and can range from a few hours (for example attending a trampolining session) to several days for more intensive support; services must be fairly accessed with clear eligibility and staffed by qualified, skilled personnel.