PHASE are committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for people of all ages and abilities. We provide a range of services to support those with disabilities, including respite care for children at our accommodation sites in Ridgewood, Pearsall and Bertram.
Are You Looking For Respite Care For Your Kid?
Our disability support workers dedicate their time to understanding the emotional state of each child so that they can work out the best support plan for them. We are an NDIS registered organisation, which comes with one amazing benefit – your peace of mind. Why? Because this is just further proof that you are choosing the right place for your child’s respite care.
At PHASE, we are proud to only employ staff who are experienced and trained in working with those who have a disability. They need a minimum of a Level III Certificate in Disability to work with us, as well as a Working with Children Check and police clearance. Our staff are all first aid trained and certified, along with having manual handling training.
How do I get Respite Care for my Child?
Caring for a child with a disability can be exhausting and so respite care is essential to give you a break. Funding may be available from the NDIS, but you will need to provide documentary evidence to support your claim. This can include a diary, timetable and videos of the care you provide and the impact that the additional level of caring has on your life. In effect, you need to provide evidence of:
- the additional support you provide compared to that for a child with no disability
- any extra support you need, such as at weekends, overnight or during holidays
- the benefit your child will receive from extra support, such as increased independence or community participation
- support received previously
- the benefits for your family, including the ability to work, socialise and rest.
The NDIS may fund a support worker to help with self-care, to participate in social activities and to help on outings. You will, however, still need to pay for entry costs to events, both for your child and possibly the support worker.
If you can’t obtain NDIS funding for respite care, contact Perth Healthcare and Support Enterprise on 1300 006 184 or [email protected]. We’ll let you know if other funding is available and will provide the top-quality respite care you need. Read More
How Our Children-Centred Respite Care Program Works
Our special needs respite care and respite care for autistic children programs provide each child individual care and attention from our staff, whilst enjoying engaging and enjoyable activities. We tailor these activities to the needs and wants of each individual child, for example, if your child loves LEGO, we can include this in their respite support plans, as well as helping them to work with others in a team setting. Each activity works in line with the goals we have discussed to make each plan work and to benefit the child in the best way possible.
Even if your young person displays challenging behaviour, our experience in dealing with this is second to none.
Our children respite care programs can be designed to suit the needs of your individual. We do not operate a one-size-fits-all approach as we recognise that everyone has different needs.
We plan the days in advance, and you can choose the days that suit you so that you can get the most from your respite care. You will have nothing to worry about throughout the day, and you will get daily updates, complete with photographs so that you can see your individual enjoying themselves.
If you would like us to, we can arrange a front door pick up and drop off so that there is no stress for you concerning the city traffic, and you are free to plan your day.
We know that caring for someone with a disability can be tough, so our Weekend Respite Program offers primary carers a chance to have a well-needed break to recharge and relieve stress. It gives them the opportunity to do things they may not be able to do while caring, such as seeing other friends and family, running errands, or just relaxing, knowing that we are taking good care of the child.
Our Access and Inclusion strategic plan summarises our methodology for providing better access and inclusion for children living with a disability.
Why Is It Important To Find The Right Type Of Special Needs Respite Care?
Special needs respite care provides parents and/or carers with the time they need to recuperate and relax, ensuring that they do not find themselves exhausted or run down.
It’s important to remember that it’s not a bad thing to admit that you can’t work without a break and will need to take some time to yourself. In doing so, you will experience a range of benefits that will allow you to return to your caring duties with renewed energy and sense of purpose.
Various studies from leading Psychologists have highlighted the need for parents and carers to ensure that they allow themselves time for breaks.
The freedom to do what you love for a day, a weekend, or however long you need can provide much-needed relaxation time, allowing you the opportunity to gain a possible new perspective on innovative ways to approach care. It can also give you time to reconnect with your friends and family, allowing you to build relationships that will make you happier in life.
Enjoying your own time, finding your identity and space, and reconnecting with loved ones are all key benefits of taking time away from care, and are crucial to staying happy in your own life, which in turn will allow you to bring a smile to the face of the individual you care for.
The most important thing to remember is that it’s not a bad thing to admit that you can’t do it all and you need a break from time to time. Without breaks, you will find yourself working to the point of being exhausted or burning yourself out.
A few of the Benefits of Respite Care for Children
- Whether you choose to take a weekend break away or simply go on a long walk, relaxation is important and can provide a feeling of calm and happiness.
- Gaining perspective. Taking time away may give you the space and clarity needed to think of new and innovative ways to approach care.
- Re-energising. Being a carer can be a busy job, and so taking time to re-energise is crucial if you are expected to be able to keep up with it.
- Social engagement. Spending time with friends and family ensures you do not isolate yourself from society.
- Enjoying your own time. You shouldn’t feel guilty for this; you have the right to pursue activities that bring you enjoyment as much as anybody else.
- Finding your own identity. You are just as important as the person you are caring for.
- Finding your own space. Whilst being a carer you may find that your own space isn’t something that is readily available to you. It’s time to change that.
Not only do we offer respite care in Perth at the weekends, we also offer lots of activities during the school holidays. This allows young people to access activities they may not otherwise be able to and to make new friends along the way. Feedback from parents and health professionals show that it is often hard for young people with special or complex needs to join mainstream programs, as they are often not equipped to cope and offer the best support. Read Less
