my ideal break

click here to download this pageThis exercise is to help you think as widely as possible about the best possible short break for
you, the carer and you, the service user.

Traditionally, you may have had little choice about short breaks. The emphasis now is on designing short breaks which work for you individually. So, don’t restrict your thinking, for example, just to the kind of short breaks you know are available in your area now. Try to be as free as possible in thinking about what you want.

To help you do this, you might want to look at other parts of this pack:

Short break definition – see ‘Definition’ in Short Break services explained section - click here
Types of short breaks you might want to have – see ‘Short Break Services Explained' section - click here
Short breaks other people have had – see Case Study examples - click here
Myths about short breaks – see Common Myths section - click here

You might find it helpful to think about your ideal short break with a friend, a family member,
an advocate or a worker who knows you well.

It would be good to record what your best short break would look like. What you are aiming to
do is think of all the features of a short break that would make it the best possible break for
you.

Before you finish thinking about your ideal short break, you might want to look at the Short
Break Planner to see if there are other important features you might not have included.
Filling in the Short Break Planner should be easier after you have thought about the best
possible short break for you.

The questions match the information your social worker will need to get your short break right
for you.

If you are paying for your short break, the questions should help you get all the details right.

My Ideal Short Break – Prompts

Here are some suggestions about the things you might want to consider when thinking about
your short break. Remember to make a note of any thoughts or ideas you have as these wll help you complete the Short Break Planner.

If your best break means staying at home, think what would be the important things about it.
These might include:

Doing something you’ve always wanted to have a go at
Doing something you know you like doing
Meeting new people
Meeting people you know
What kind of support, if any, you need during your break
Where you would be
What time of day you want your break
Which day(s) you want your break
Anything else which is important for your break

It can also be helpful to be clear about what mustn’t happen on your short break. You might
want to think about:

Things that have gone wrong with previous short breaks
Your worries about what might go wrong on a short break and how these can be
avoided

If your best break means staying away from home, think what would be the important things
about it. These might include:

Going away on your own
Going away with other people
Meeting new people
Doing something you know you like doing
Doing something you’ve always wanted to have a go at
How long you want to go for
What kind of accommodation you would be using
What’s important about where you are going for your break
What’s important about how you get to your break
When you want to go on your break
What kind of support, if any, you need during your break
Anything else which is important for your break

It can also be helpful to be clear about what mustn’t happen on your short break.
You might want to think about:

Things that have gone wrong with previous short breaks
Your worries about what might go wrong on a short break and how these can be
avoided

Go to 'Short Break Planner'