What is Respite Care?
The respite Care Scheme aims to offer a caring service to children with a disability and their families by providing regular periods of care for the child to give their family a break.
Families of a child with a disability who wish to use this type of family based service are matched with an approved carer or family who will take over the care of the child for periods of time agreed in consultation with the child's Care Manager and the carer's Social Worker. Respite care is offered on a regular basis and may be for a few hours or a few days at a time.
Why Should You Help?
Looking after a child with a disability can be an exhausting and stressful task. The extra care required by a child with a disability can leave parents and families with little opportunity to relax and enjoy normal family activities or to have a break from caring.
Knowing that there is someone they can rely on to take over the care of their child on a regular planned basis or in an emergency can help alleviate the stress and help them to carry on caring for a child.
What Does it Take to Become a Respite Carer?
If you are interested in becoming a Respite Carer, a Social Worker will visit you to discuss the assessment process and training. There are no formal qualifications required. However, you will need a caring attitude, patience and an ability to make a commitment to the child and his/her family. Children with a disability do have special needs and to be able to meet these you will have to be mature and able to cope with the demands of often very lively children.
It is usually, although not always, the case that the child will be cared for in your own home. Social Work Services may be able to provide any equipment required, for as long as you continue to care for the child.
Is There Anything in it for You?
Respite Carers generally find the relationships they build with both the children they care for and their families can be very rewarding. In addition to the satisfaction gained from the work, you will receive a small allowance from Social Work Services. This does not affect the respite carer's entitlement to DSS benefits.
Further information can be obtained from:
INVERNESS
Inverness Family Resource Centre
Limetree Avenue
Inverness
Tel: 01463 234120
NAIRN
Social Work Services
60 King Street
Nairn
Tel: 01667 453746
BADENOCH & STRATHSPEY
Social Work Services
115 Grampian Road
Aviemore
Tel: 01479 810251
ROSS & CROMARTY
Conon Family Resource Centre
Sellar Place
Conon Bridge
Tel: 01349 861508
SKYE & LOCHALSH
Social Work Services
Tigh na Drochaid
Bridge Road
Portree
Tel: 01478 612943
LOCHABER
Social Work Services
Tweeddale Buildings
High Street
Fort William
Tel: 01397 703397
CAITHNESS
Social Work Services
125/127 High Street
Wick
Tel: 01955 605040
SUTHERLAND
Social Work Services
Main Street
Golspie
Tel: 01408 633033
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