Childcare - alternative respite and shared care
Shared care is a family based respite service for children and families affected by disability.
Caring for a child affected by a disability is often a stressful and exhausting experience for all family members.
There may be little time for either the adults or other children in the family to relax and their leisure pursuits can be restricted through meeting the needs of the child or young person.
The family and the child can be isolated within their community and may have few supports from relatives or friends. Shared care provides a break for the family and gives the child an opportunity to widen their social contacts. The support that a shared carer provides can assist the family to continue to care for their child at home.
Shared carers look after a child for variable periods of time - from a few hours per week to a weekend per month.
Support for shared carers
Every child is affected by disability in an individual way. Training is specific to the needs of the child whom the carer looks after.
Training is provided by the parents of the child and by other agencies involved with the child such as his or her nursery or school staff.
Each carer is supported by their own social worker and by the child’s social worker. Carers assist each other through a monthly group meeting that provides both support and training in all aspects of child care.
Shared carers are assisted financially to care for the child in the carer’s own home.
All applicants will be expected to undergo a full assessment before they are considered for approval as carers for East Renfrewshire Council.
People who can apply
Carers do not require any specific experience or qualifications. They need to have time, patience and a sense of humour. They need to be physically fit and to have room in their home to care for a child.
We know from experience that non-related children do not always get on well when forced to share a bedroom. A spare bedroom is therefore required to allow all children involved to have their own space and privacy.
Carers need to be able to see past a child’s disability and need to have the imagination and flexibility to assist a child to have a relaxing and enjoyable time during their stay with their shared carer.
Carers are expected to help a child to take part in social and leisure activities whenever possible, to help them to achieve their potential and feel that they are members of everyday society.
A good personal support network and a sense of humour are advantages.