What do short breaks workers do?
Looking after a child with a severe disability can place a huge strain on family life. To help them cope, local authorities in England are required to offer families short breaks. The short breaks themselves can range from a couple of hours of support a week within the child's home to overnight stays to placements lasting up to 28 days in residential centres. The role of the worker is to support the child while they are away from their parent or carer.
Last month, the government announced it was investing more than £800m in short breaks over the next four years. The money is expected to create more jobs for short breaks workers.
What qualifications or experience do you need for the job?
There is no set qualification for short breaks workers. Instead, employers are looking for people who are good at working with children, young people and families, according to Polly Stringer. She is the short breaks co-ordinator in Camden, north London, for the charity Kids, one of the largest providers of short breaks services. Successful applicants tend to have worked in childcare or have volunteered in this country or abroad for disability charities.
Employers will usually provide training depending on the experience of the worker and the individual needs of the child. Training will cover areas including disability awareness, lifting and handling, and medical skills such as replacing colonoscopy bags.
The job can be physically and mentally demanding as some of the children may be extremely ill.
What does the job involve?
It mainly involves having fun with the child, according to Stringer. If the short break takes place at the child's home the worker will organise a range of exciting activities suited to the individual's level of ability. Alternatively, they might take the child out to a local park, play group or centre. Some providers offer a sitting service where they look after the child overnight. Workers will generally spend between two-and-a-half and nine hours a week with the child, says Stringer. Alternatively, the child might use their short break to go away to a residential centre.
How do they work with other professionals?
Short breaks workers will come into contact with a range of professionals depending on the child's disability. These could include speech and language therapists, GPs and specialist school teachers.
As the short breaks worker will usually be the professional who has the most contact with the child, they will often assume the parent or carer's role if they are absent.
Is the job full time?
There are some full-time roles but many of the jobs advertised are part time. Kids, for example, is typically able to offer short breaks workers between 12 and 15 hours of employment each week. Workers earn between £7 and £12 an hour. Candidates also need to be prepared to work in the evenings or at weekends as these are the times when many families request support.
What is the scope for career progression?
The job can be a springboard for a variety of roles. Stringer herself started as a short breaks worker and now acts as co-ordinator for two programmes. Other possible career routes include parent support roles or working in specialist disability centres.
Who employs short breaks workers?
Some councils employ workers directly but many contract their short breaks services to children's charities and social care companies. Barnardo's, Action for Children, Kids and The Children's Society are among those that provide short breaks services. It is worth contacting your local authority if you are interested in becoming a short breaks worker to establish how arrangements are managed locally.
