Family Link Scheme
The Family Link Scheme is a service for children with disabilities aged 0-12 years, which offers short breaks with an individual carer/family.
The scheme offers two services - link care and sitting.
Link carers provide care based in their own homes (which can
include overnight care). Sitters offer care in the child's
own home.
Becoming a carer or sitter can be a valuable experience both
personally and as a way of starting a career in childcare. The
service offers flexible working hours, fitting in around another
job if you wish.
Benefits
Caring for children with disabilities on a full
time basis can be very intensive and exhausting. The service gives
parents/carers valuable time to themselves to do other things.
Having a link carer or a sitter can be an enjoyable change of
scenery for a child with a disability, giving them the chance to
make new friends, develop some independence and broaden their
horizons.
Who can become a carer or a sitter?
Our carers and sitters are people who enjoy being
with children and who have some spare time, energy and
commitment. Some of our carers/sitters have special skills
and all of them have experience of caring for their own, or other
people's children.
The carers and sitters are of all ages; they can be single or married and may have their own children. We have sitters and carers from all ethnic, cultural and religious groups to care for the children who use the service.
Recruitment and training
Link carers are thoroughly assessed in their own
home by a family link worker as required by the Children's Act
1989. Checks are made with the police, health authority and
local authority departments.
Sitters also undergo checks but they are interviewed and appointed rather then assessed in their homes.
Carers and sitters attend a 14-hour induction programme and specialist training in first aid, moving and lifting and Makaton. They also attend quarterly support groups and receive regular supervision.
How often does a child see the sitter or carer?
Link carers offer short breaks in their own homes with
stays ranging from a few hours to overnight. This usually takes
place a few times a month. A family is entitled to 21 days
break a year.
Sitters provide regular short breaks in the child's home, although many of the children like to go out (eg to the park). A family is entitled to eight hours of the sitting service a month.
All carers and sitters are linked with one child but sometimes more depending on the time they have available. This gives the carer/sitter the opportunity to build up a relationship with the child and their family.
Interested in becoming a carer/sitter?
For further information about becoming a link carer or sitter
please telephone 0800 731 6550 (freephone).