I work with the Reading Family Link Scheme
"My job pays the soul, and a few bills"
What is Family Link care?
The Family Link Scheme provides support to disabled children and their families through linking them with volunteer families or individuals who can provide the disabled child with short breaks on a regular basis. There are different ways in which Family Link carers can look after a disabled child:
Who can be a Family Link Carer?
Anyone can be a Family Link Carer. We need carers from all walks of life to support different types of families with disabled children - you may be single, married or with a partner, any age, from any culture or religion.
You must be in reasonably good health and there must be nothing in your family situation which would suggest that any child in your care would be at risk of harm.
What does it involve?
Being a Family Link Carer means that you would become a regular carer for a child who has a physical or learning disability. Once you are accepted as a Family Link Carer we will match you and your family to a child - the matching process ensures that you, your family and the child are suited to each other and will enjoy the time you spend together.
While they are in your care you are responsible for meeting the child's routine care needs (meals, personal care etc) and any specific care needs the child has relating to their disability.
They will also want to have fun while they are with you so you will need to ensure that there is plenty for them to do and hopefully introduce them to new activities. One of the great benefits of Family Link care for the child is that they can share experiences that are not normally available to them at home.
Please note: we carry out a range of police, health and other checks to ensure that safety of all children looked after by Family Link Carers.
Why we need Family Link Carers?
We have lots of families in Reading who have a child who has disabilities.
Bringing up any child is hard work. Bringing up a child with disabilities is much harder because providing the care they need can be time consuming and exhausting. This often means that other family activities are restricted and the needs and interests of other family members (especially brothers and sisters) have to take a much lower priority.
Family Link care gives the family a much needed break from caring. This break allows them space to re-charge their batteries, to spend quality time with each other and to enjoy activities they are cannot normally do with their disabled child.
Do I need any special skills?
No - you don't need specific experience of disability, or indeed childcare, although this can be helpful. People who become Family Link carers are just as varied as the families who use the service. We need carers from all walks of life.
All you need is some spare time, the energy to care for a child who can be demanding, the willingness to commit to becoming a regular carer for a child who uses the service and a desire to do something really worthwhile.
We will give you training to help you prepare for the special needs of the child you will be looking after. We also provide ongoing support to all our Family Link Carers.
How much time would it take?
It really depends on what you can offer. Many families need support:
When and how often you provide care is usually discussed and agreed at your first meeting with the child and their family.
How will I know if I can cope?
This is not likely to be a problem - we match carers and children together so that both parties enjoy and benefit from the Family Link experience.
As a part of the assessment process we spend time getting to know you and your family. This allows us to establish what sort of child /disabilities suit you best. We do the same with the child and their family so we can identify what sort of carer they will be happiest with. We also take into account your availability and the support time needed by the child and their family.
Once a match has been made we will arrange a meeting to introduce you to the child and their family. If everyone is happy you will start by looking after the child for short sessions so you can get to know each other, progressing to the agreed care arrangements when everyone feels ready.
Will I get paid?
Being a Family Link carer is voluntary. However, carers are paid an allowance each time they provide care for a child. This payment is to cover their expenses and does not count as an income and so will not affect tax or benefits.
What do people get out of it?
Knowing that what you do makes a real difference is very rewarding. When you offer Family Link care to a disabled child you give their family the time and space they need to relax and enjoy things that other families take for granted. You also add a new dimension to life of the child you look after. The time you spend with them, the care you give and the activities and experiences you help them enjoy adds a special quality to their lives. Lots of people are looking for ways to make worthwhile contribution to their local community. Being a Family Link Carer is an excellent way of achieving this.
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in becoming a Family Link carer or finding out more about what it involves fill in their online form or call the team
Tel: 0118 937 3740 - if there is no one in the office when you call please leave your name and number - one of the team will get back to you as soon as we can.
(all information has been pulled directly from the website)
The Family Link Scheme provides support to disabled children and their families through linking them with volunteer families or individuals who can provide the disabled child with short breaks on a regular basis. There are different ways in which Family Link carers can look after a disabled child:
- as a befriender taking a child out and about for a few hours
- as a day carer having a child to your home for a few hours or perhaps a day
- having the child to stay overnight usually as part of a weekend visit.
Who can be a Family Link Carer?
Anyone can be a Family Link Carer. We need carers from all walks of life to support different types of families with disabled children - you may be single, married or with a partner, any age, from any culture or religion.
You must be in reasonably good health and there must be nothing in your family situation which would suggest that any child in your care would be at risk of harm.
What does it involve?
Being a Family Link Carer means that you would become a regular carer for a child who has a physical or learning disability. Once you are accepted as a Family Link Carer we will match you and your family to a child - the matching process ensures that you, your family and the child are suited to each other and will enjoy the time you spend together.
While they are in your care you are responsible for meeting the child's routine care needs (meals, personal care etc) and any specific care needs the child has relating to their disability.
They will also want to have fun while they are with you so you will need to ensure that there is plenty for them to do and hopefully introduce them to new activities. One of the great benefits of Family Link care for the child is that they can share experiences that are not normally available to them at home.
Please note: we carry out a range of police, health and other checks to ensure that safety of all children looked after by Family Link Carers.
Why we need Family Link Carers?
We have lots of families in Reading who have a child who has disabilities.
Bringing up any child is hard work. Bringing up a child with disabilities is much harder because providing the care they need can be time consuming and exhausting. This often means that other family activities are restricted and the needs and interests of other family members (especially brothers and sisters) have to take a much lower priority.
Family Link care gives the family a much needed break from caring. This break allows them space to re-charge their batteries, to spend quality time with each other and to enjoy activities they are cannot normally do with their disabled child.
Do I need any special skills?
No - you don't need specific experience of disability, or indeed childcare, although this can be helpful. People who become Family Link carers are just as varied as the families who use the service. We need carers from all walks of life.
All you need is some spare time, the energy to care for a child who can be demanding, the willingness to commit to becoming a regular carer for a child who uses the service and a desire to do something really worthwhile.
We will give you training to help you prepare for the special needs of the child you will be looking after. We also provide ongoing support to all our Family Link Carers.
How much time would it take?
It really depends on what you can offer. Many families need support:
- after school once or twice a week
- during school holidays
- at weekends - for one day or both days once a month/every few months
When and how often you provide care is usually discussed and agreed at your first meeting with the child and their family.
How will I know if I can cope?
This is not likely to be a problem - we match carers and children together so that both parties enjoy and benefit from the Family Link experience.
As a part of the assessment process we spend time getting to know you and your family. This allows us to establish what sort of child /disabilities suit you best. We do the same with the child and their family so we can identify what sort of carer they will be happiest with. We also take into account your availability and the support time needed by the child and their family.
Once a match has been made we will arrange a meeting to introduce you to the child and their family. If everyone is happy you will start by looking after the child for short sessions so you can get to know each other, progressing to the agreed care arrangements when everyone feels ready.
Will I get paid?
Being a Family Link carer is voluntary. However, carers are paid an allowance each time they provide care for a child. This payment is to cover their expenses and does not count as an income and so will not affect tax or benefits.
What do people get out of it?
Knowing that what you do makes a real difference is very rewarding. When you offer Family Link care to a disabled child you give their family the time and space they need to relax and enjoy things that other families take for granted. You also add a new dimension to life of the child you look after. The time you spend with them, the care you give and the activities and experiences you help them enjoy adds a special quality to their lives. Lots of people are looking for ways to make worthwhile contribution to their local community. Being a Family Link Carer is an excellent way of achieving this.
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in becoming a Family Link carer or finding out more about what it involves fill in their online form or call the team
Tel: 0118 937 3740 - if there is no one in the office when you call please leave your name and number - one of the team will get back to you as soon as we can.
(all information has been pulled directly from the website)
