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What is this service?
We offer different types of support for children with disabilities and their families, including:
- Short breaks (or respite) for children with all kinds of disabilities, away from their own home, to give parents a break from caring. The children stay in the homes of approved carers, who have all been thoroughly checked and assessed. (Please see the attachments at the bottom of the page).
- Short breaks (or respite) for children with learning disabilities in our four-bed unit. It is open at weekends and school holidays. It has facilities to take children who have physical disabilities as well as their learning disability.
- Social work support. We visit families at home to discuss what support the child or young person needs, as a result of their disability. This is called an assessment. We can then set up a range of services including Direct Payments, where you get money to buy in the care you need.
Who can we help?
Any child or young person (under 18) with a disability, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, can apply to use these services.
Unfortunately we can't help everyone so we carry out what's called an initial assessment to find out a bit more about your situation. We will then know whether our services are suitable for you and whether we may be able to offer you support.
How do you ask for this support?
You need to contact Swann House on 01782 235100. The office is open Monday - Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
What happens when you contact us?
If you phone our office, we will ask you some questions to find out more about you, like your age, name, address and what help you need. We then pass these details onto our duty officer who will decide whether our services can help you and let you know, within one working day.
If our services can help you, we will usually do what we call an ‘initial assessment’ with you, where we meet you and talk to you more about your situation and the support you need. We aim to do this within seven working days.
After the initial assessment we will refer you to our Children with Disabilities specialist social work team to decide what help we can offer you. There will be further discussion with you and social work staff as well as colleagues from helath and voluntary organisations to ensure that you receive the most appropriate service for your child and family. The help you receive could be provided by one of the organisations below:
North Staffs Combined Healthcare- they run respite services for children with learning disabilities - click here to find out more.
Donna Louise Trust- click here to go to their website. They are a voluntary organisation who also offer respite care for children with disabilities and run a hospice for children with terminal illnesses.
Disability Solutions - they run the Direct Payments Scheme where you can get money to buy in and organise the care you need. Click here to find out more about Direct Payments.
North Staffs Special Adventure PlaygroundFor children with special needs and their families.
Phone 01782 717612
Contact a Family: This is the only UK charity offering support and advice to parents, whatever the medical condition of their child. www.cafamily.org.uk
Freephone for parents and families (10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday) 0808 8083555
Address: 209 - 211 City Road, London EC1B 1JN
Phone: 02076 088700
Family Fund Trust: Gives information and can provide grants to families with severely disabled or ill children. www.familyfundtrust.org.uk
Sure Start: A Government programme which aims to increase better outcomes for childrens, parents and communities. www.direct.gov.uk/surestart
How to Contact Us
If you are a young carer (under the age of 18) or the person you care for is under 18 contact the Swann House on 01782 235100.
If you are over 18 and the person you look after is over 18 contact the Social Care Contact Team on 0800 561 0015 or Minicom 01782 238171 or Minicom Out of Hours on 01782 234545.