Subheading In home respite
Individualised Funding (IF) Respite
IF Respite funding can be used to purchase respite through support workers or other suitable things so that a full-time Carer can have a break.
A carer can take a break by engaging a support worker for the disabled person they usually provide care for – this gives the carer an opportunity to do something for themselves.
A disabled person can enjoy doing something away from the full-time carer, while they take a break.
Examples of ways that you can use IF Respite include:
- Paying a carer/support worker to look after the disabled person you usually care for, so that you can take time out and rest/go for a walk/sleep etc
- Paying for an activity that the disabled person does, so that the carer can take time out from caring duties e.g. Child attends a activity programme that does not require parent attendance.
- Paying for an item that the disabled person uses to amuse themselves (e.g. tablet, trampoline), so that a carer can take time out.
- Paying for accommodation for yourself, away from your home, while the person you support is looked after by someone else – this could be a paid support worker or a family member or friend.
- Paying for an activity for yourself, such as a gym membership, yoga, massage that will help you to replenish your wellbeing. A support worker or a family member could look after the person while you are doing your activity.
An IF respite budget is allocated to ensure that the primary carer and the family are supported while caring for a disabled family member. Using respite funding to look after the Carer wellbeing is essential to ensure sustainability over the lifetime care of a disabled person.
IF Respite funding may be used to pay for therapies and purchasing items using the flexible funding guidelines. We do recommend that families choose how they utilise their respite to ensure that both the disabled person and the carer are supported.