The Aiming High project is a government initiative aimed at transforming services for disabled children and their familes.
Launched in May 2008 and now funded for 2 years work is already underway to ensure that families get the support they need to live ordinary family lives.
Key to making services more responsive to families’ needs are:
- better provision of short breaks for disabled children
- different forms of childcare
- better planning when children face changes like leaving school
- local parent forums, (parent input into how services are set up and run locally)
Main principles:
- disabled children and young people to access positive experiences independently of their families
- high quality information and clarity about decision making
- child centred services delivered by many groups from "assessment" to "service delivery"
- informed decisions about treatment, care, support and shaping services
Short Breaks will:
- be enjoyable experiences contributing to the personal and social development of young people at the same time reducing social isolation
- give parents and carers valuable breaks from caring
- give extra support to families with others sharing the caring
- be based on needs assessment of the disabled child
- take account of the child’s views as well as their families
- be more plentiful
- use fair and clear eligibility criteria that can be easily understood
- reach all the most important groups
- give high quality services efficiently costed
- particularly for 14+ focus on change associated with transition and on development of personalised budgets
- be available all over the county.
By 2012 we expect to have sufficient:
- recreational leisure-time activities and facilities (including sporting and informal physical activities)
- cultural activities including music and art
- educational leisure time activities and facilities.
For information on Cambridgeshire's progress see the web page on National Indicator 54.
For more information please contact:
Richard Holland, Development and Commissioning Manager on 07901 511912 or by email:
richard.holland@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Aiming High event - Free Family Fun Day (217Kb)