SOJ-HCS-T Children's Daytime Short Breaks Framework (2019)

The States of Jersey is looking to establish a new framework contract for the provision of daytime short breaks for children.

The aim is to provide disabled children and young people with opportunities to spend time away from their primary carers and taken part in activities that enable them to relax and have fun and develop their independence, emotional resilience and confidence. The short breaks will also support parents and carers of disabled children and young people to have a break from caring responsibilities.

Short breaks for disabled children are part of Jersey’s local offer for children, young people with special needs and disabilities and their families. The overall strategic direction is to facilitate families to make arrangements for themselves and their children and take-up of community based activities and services where appropriate to a child’s needs. This is often what is most appropriate to meet need and what many families want. The approach also achieves efficiencies and reduces reliance on high-cost specialist services.

Not all children and families will need the same type or level of short break; some will need more than others because of the nature or severity of the child's disability.

Because of the growing demand for the services, the framework will remain dynamic and open throughout its life. This means that organisations who are interested in delivering the short breaks (or the support services for short breaks which also forms part of the framework) but would not be able to start immediately, would be able to undertake an implementation period.

Once the requirements needed for being an approved and capable provider are finally in place (and duly confirmed by the States) then that provider can join the framework at that point.

We plan to advertise the existence of the framework at least once a year in order to maintain local awareness of it, and to encourage new entrants.

Conversely, ongoing performance monitoring of providers delivering the short breaks, will ensure that any substandard service is identified and corrected.

Two awareness events are planned for interested parties to attend and learn more about the framework.

These are taking place at Overdale Hospital (Meeting room 2, Child Development Centre) on the 6th (09:30-10:30) and 8th (12:30-13:30) of February

For details of theses sessions and for access to the tender document please express interest in this tender, selecting the options on this screen. If you don’t already have a profile on this tender portal then please create a profile first (should take no longer than 10 minutes to do this).