short breaks

The impact of short breaks on families with a disabled child over time: the second report from the quantitative study

Report that presents the findings of a longitudinal survey into the impact of short breaks on disabled children and their families.

The study is the final element of a programme of research commissioned by the Department for Education (formerly the Department for Children, Schools and Families) and carried out by the Centre for Disability Research (CeDR) at Lancaster University in partnership with the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi).

Evaluation of the impact of Action for Children short break services on outcomes for children: final report

Report that examines the findings of a study commissioned by Action for Children to explore the impact that their short break services have on disabled children and their families. The study began in August 2010 and an interim report was published in September 2010 (Holmes, McDermid, Soper and Lawson, 2010).

It aims to explore the impact of Action for Children short breaks services on disabled children and their families within this context and seeks to provide an evidence base for the future provision of Action for Children services to disabled children and their families.

Raised expectations: parental experiences of short breaks

Report that provides a snapshot of the experiences of parents of disabled children in order to highlight examples of good practice and identify possible areas of concern.

Findings do not cover a representative sample, so cannot reflect the progress of the short breaks programme as a whole, but provide real life examples of the way that impact can be made on the ground.

Children's and families' services SCIE guide 25 : having a break : good practice in short breaks for families with children who have complex health needs and disabilities

Having a break : good practice in short breaks for families with children who have complex health needs and disabilities. This guide is one of a series published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). SCIE guides are one-stop shops for social care practitioners, presenting key findings, current legislation and examples of what is working well to guide and inform practice. Guide published in November 2008.

The impacts of short break provision on disabled children and families: an international literature review

There are widespread assumptions about the potentially beneficial impact of short breaks on family carers and disabled children, including reduced carer stress and an increased capacity for family carers to continue caring, and increased child enjoyment of a wider range of social opportunities. This review aims to systematically evaluate the existing international research evidence concerning the impact of short breaks, to determine where there is robust evidence for the impact of short breaks on families with a disabled child and where more evidence is needed.