Provision of Short Break Services for Disabled Children & Young People

The market engagement event will be held on 18th June at 10:30am - 12:30pm on Microsoft Teams to discuss future commissioning of short break provisions for our children with disabilities. Both boroughs seek to appoint a number of providers to the Framework.

Our core Short Breaks offer will consist of regular sessions to support children and young people with disabilities to have regular access to a provision which offers a range of creative, stimulating, fun and co-designed activities within our local communities including support to access mainstream activities for Children and Young People the overarching aim being for our Children to build self-esteem and confidence to help them reach their potential. Short Breaks will be a combination of sessions after school, evening, weekends and during school and college holidays.

The aim of the Market Engagement event is to provide information to prospective bidders about our children's needs and the proposed lots. We are seeking to gain feedback especially around gaps in provision, the proposed lots and potential barriers to service delivery. Additionally, we also want to receive feedback about our Boroughs joint commissioning the Short Breaks Framework.

It is our aim to have a Short Break offer for Children 0-18/19 which will be a combination of community outreach and group-based activities and a support offer for their families.

For Children aged 0-5 in Camden, we seek to commission a Portage type service to support families to develop a quality of life for themselves which includes participation within their own community and stay and play group activities.

For Children aged 5-12, we seek to commission a combination of both community outreach and group-based activities that which takes account of individual children's needs and desires in safe and friendly environments that provides opportunities for Children to play and socialise with their peers.

We also seek to commission a Youth offer that will be a combination of community outreach and group based that will deliver: -

• skills-based activities to enable children to develop and pursue their personal interests, aspirations and build on their talents through a variety of opportunities such as computer skills, art, gardening, cooking, drama, music and sports
• social activities which are co-designed and understanding individual children's needs
• Activities which support young people to prepare for adulthood such as independent living skills, money management, travel training and being healthy.

During the Market Engagement event, we will share information with participants pertaining to the numbers and needs of our children, the prospective Lots and types of provision we are considering for the contracts and the budget envelope.

We would like to understand from providers: -

- What barriers and opportunities there will be in commissioning short breaks
- Feedback on the proposed Lots and anything further we should consider
- Thoughts on the proposed contract price
- Participants view of joint commissioning the contracts
- Any further aims and objectives Short Break contracts should include.

If you are interested in this opportunity and would like to attend the Market Engagement event, please complete and return the registration form through ProContracts (project reference number DN776561 or email email helen.mannion@camden.gov.uk