Respite Services:
Fresh Start provides respite services to families and foster families who at times need a "break" or skilled external support.
Our Aim:
Is to provide families/carers with additional supports to maintain and facilitate the continuation of positive care.
Due to the large demands and pressure on parents and carers, who look after children and young people with emotional difficulties, it is often beneficial to have a support service outside of the family to allow "time away" for the carer and young person. This provision can be offered in a variety of ways, yet specific to family needs.
- Staff members work with family members to support them in the more stressful tasks within the home. Parents/carers can take some time for themselves to recharge, relax, attend appointments, which would otherwise be difficult to do, without additional skilled support which is often not available from extended family members.
- Respite can be offered on an hourly/daily basis within or outside the home.
- Where necessary and appropriate, the staff team can carry out a needs assessment with the family/young person to provide a strategy to deal with the challenges within the home.
- Young people can be offered respite outside of the home in any location on an activity break. This motivates the young person to have fun and reflect on home life, with skilled staff, through informal activity. The young person can be provided with core skills in conflict resolution/communication, enabling them to communicate more appropriately thus harmonising the family dynamic.
- 24/7 telephone On Call service can be provided to carers, to advise and provide guidance in crisis/emergency situations.
- In exceptional circumstances, these services can also be provided to the young people in other Residential Centres to support them in their placement.
If you wish to find out more about this programme, please contact David Durney on 059-9139454 or by email to info@freshstart.ie