Our duty
The Children Act 1989 and the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 place a duty on local authorities to provide a range of short break services for carers of disabled children and to publish a short breaks services statement.
As the legislation specifically relates to disabled children (defined under the Children Act 1989 as people under 18 years of age), this statement focuses on children with disabilities and their families.
Many children who access short breaks may also have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), however eligibility for short breaks is based on a child's disability and assessed needs.
The following legislation is also in place to protect and support children and their families:
- the Children and Young Person’s Act 2008
- the Short Break Regulations 2011 - paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989 - all local authorities are required to publish a short break duty services statement from 1st October 2011 and undertake an annual review.
- the Equality Act 2010
- SEND Reforms 2014
- Children’s and Families Act 2014
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Care Act 2014 short breaks are designed to support families so that they do not reach crisis point.
We will check this short breaks statement annually to make sure it is up to date and relevant to the local needs of children and their families.
Relevant strategies and policies
The development of short breaks services in Lincolnshire is informed by a range of local strategies and plans, including:
- family help strategy 2026-2029
- Lincolnshire inclusions strategy 2025-27
- integrated commissioning strategy for SEND
