Family link

Family link is a service for disabled children and their parents that links them with another family or individual to give them a short break on a regular basis.

The short break usually involves your child staying with the carer one weekend a month. This is built up over time to give you and your child time to get to know the carer. 

Family Link can also assess someone from your own network to become a regular carer for your child. This may be a member of your exteneded family, a neighbour or friend.

The children who use the service may have a physical disability, a learning difficulty, sensory impairment or social communication difficulties, such as autism.

Family link carers take children out to activities such as swimming or to the park or they could do things at home like art, cooking or playing games. Often it will depend on what the child's favourite activities or pastimes are. Every family link placement will be different.

The service is provided to families following an assessment of the young person's needs. The family link carers receive full training and a small allowance to cover expenses. Short breaks are the support service most commonly requested by families of disabled children.

What the link will give

The child

An opportunity to make new friends, experience new opportunities and have a regular break from their family, which includes sleepovers.

The family

Some extra time with an opportunity to recharge their batteries whilst knowing their child is well cared for.

"It's lovely to have a break but it's also lovely to be able to share my son's achievements with someone who understands. I can't say to another parent of another 10 year old how excited I was when he first signed that he wanted a drink. His carer was just as excited as I was".

Information for families

You can apply for the scheme if your child lives in Southwark, is aged up to 18 years, and is either on, or eligible to be on, the disability register.