IF Respite
Individualised Funding (IF) Respite
IF Respite is a type of flexible support that can be used to enable a family carer to take a break from their care and support role. This can be a break away or a break in your home.
If you have IF respite, you need to have an IF Host to access your disability budget.
IF Respite is part of Flexible Funding and is governed by the April 2026 Flexible Funding purchasing operational policy.
Out-of-home respite (OOH respite)
OOH respite is when the disabled person takes an overnight break away from their regular family carers. You can use this funding to pay a friend or family member to look after your disabled loved one in their home, whether it’s just for one night or a bit longer.
In-home respite
In-home respite, is when the disabled person receives support at home or in the community while the carer takes a break. A support worker or ‘buddy’ can help the disabled person at home or in the community to work on their goals or the disabled person may participate in an activity.
It is a good idea to think of what would work for your family before having your needs assessement.
You can also have a combination of IF Respite and Carer Support if this is what works for you.
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.
Key things to remember
- IF Respite cannot be used to employ a fulltime care/family member living in the same home
- Some family members decide to be the paid support worker. However, this can make it harder for them to take breaks if they are also the main caregiver.
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 (in-home respite)
- 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 (in-home respite)
- Paying for an item that the disabled person uses to amuse themselves (e.g. tablet, trampoline), so that a carer can take time out (in-home respite)
- 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 (in-home respite).
- Paying for an activity for the carer, 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. (in home respite)
- The disabled person goes to stay overnight at a relative’s house, and they are paid to care for them at their house (out-of-home respite)