Family Link

Introduction

Can you help? We need all kinds of people!

Family link provides short breaks for disabled children and young people.

A Family Link carer can look after a child for a few hours, whole days, weekends or full weeks. These breaks can be arranged in either the carer's or the child's home. Carers are carefully matched with children and the aim is to build up a long term relationship.

Disabled children and their families often have to wait to be matched with a carer.

The information on this page tells you about becoming a family link carer. There is also a children's guide to Family Link.

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Becoming a Family Link carer

Anyone with a real interest in helping children can become a Family Link carer. Specialist knowledge is not needed. Full training, support and expenses are provided.

If you think Family Link is for you call 0117 353 4086.

Who are the children?

Children who have varying disabilities, most of whom live at home with their parents. They might have either a physical impairment, or learning disability, or both.

How old are the children?

We have an age range of 0-18 years but in practice few babies are referred to us. Children can be referred at any age but most commonly from toddler age to 14 years.

Who can become a family link carer?

Anyone with a genuine interest in children. You do not need specialist knowledge of disabilities but if you have any relevant voluntary or working experience, let us know. The minimum age is 18 years but there is no upper age limit; it all depends upon your energy and stamina! Married, divorced or single people are equally welcome irrespective of sexual orientation. Enquiries from Black people or other ethnic minorities are especially welcome. We are also keen to recruit Disabled people as carers.

Are any expenses provided?

Once you are approved and linked with a child, we pay basic expenses to cover food, heating and lighting costs. If necessary, we will also pay a small mileage allowance. For further details speak to us.

Where is the care provided?

It depends upon your circumstances. Carers can look after children in their home, or the child's home, if you are unable to look after a child in your home. You may like to consider visiting the child in their home and perhaps taking them out for the day or part of the day.

Is there any training offered?

Yes. We offer a basic preparation course, which is organised, when we have viable numbers for a group. In the past we have met on a Saturday, approximately from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm plus four consecutive Wednesday Evenings from 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. The course is designed to raise awareness about disability generally. It does not aim to give precise details on the types of impairment.

Detailed information would be given when you are approved and about to be linked with a child. We provide ongoing support both on an individual and group basis by running a regular support group for carers. An outside speaker is often invited and we frequently show videos, which we think will interest carers. In addition we send you a brief newsletter to keep you in touch with what is going on.

How are people linked to children on the family link scheme?

After a discussion with a Family Link Social Worker, potential carers are assessed thoroughly before being approved by an independent Family Placement Panel. Once approved, carers are linked with one child and we hope that this contact will continue for as long as possible. We ask for a minimum commitment of two years because the service is appreciated by the families who use it.

What is the next step?

Contact the Recruitment Team at Bristol Children & Young People's Services. We will arrange for someone from the Family Link Team to visit you to discuss the scheme in more detail. We also have some videos which describe how Family Link Schemes work.

How do I proceed from there?

If you are interested in becoming a Family Link Carer after discussing it with us, we will ask your permission to take up references i.e. from police records, your GP, Health Visitor (if any) plus three personal references. We will need to interview two of your referees and to interview you and other people in your household several times, involving at least six visits. This is to ensure that you understand what you are taking on and that we are satisfied that you will be able to manage this important task.

A report is written at the end of your assessment that is then discussed by the Family Placements Panel. You have the opportunity of reading this report beforehand and adding any comments that you think are necessary. This process can take from 4-6 months or longer, depending how long it takes for all the information to be collated.

Family Link is one of the services we provide to assist and support disabled children and their families. We have specialist teams who provide other services see the Disabled Children Service page.

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Our contact details

Family Link Recruitment Team
Children & Young People's Services
Avonvale Road
Redfield
Bristol
BS5 9RH

Telephone: 0117 353 4086
Fax: 0117 353 4102
Textphone: 07795091266

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Let us contact you

Your contact details

The form below sends an e-mail to a member of the Family Link team. Please fill your details in the boxes and send us a message. We will then contact you.

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