Part-time Caring

What is part-time caring?

Satisfying, rewarding and often great fun, part-time caring enables you to provide vital support to a disabled child and their family. Fitting regular short breaks around your daily life, you will become part of a child’s life whether it is for holidays, weekends, day care or babysitting.

The people who will benefit from your care include:

• Children with medical conditions
• Children with learning disabilities
• Children with physical disabilities
• Parents or carers needing support

“Of course we love our child. But now and then we need time to spend with our other children and do the things that other families take for granted.”

Who can do it?
Whatever your age or personal circumstances – you can do it, as long as you are able to make a regular commitment and have the room in your home to look after a child. What matters most is that you are able to help the feel comfortable with their surroundings and broaden their experience.
Children with disabilities are the same as other children in responding to love, care and rewarding activities.
We want ordinary people who have time, energy and a genuine desire to help a child with a disability.

You also don’t need special qualifications or experience as long as you are willing to learn and participate in training.
Other qualities that will prove beneficial are: 

• A positive outlook
• Patience, tolerance and dedication
• Motivation, energy and a good sense of humour
• Confidence to deal with a variety of situations

What assistance will you receive?
You will be given all the appropriate training and support that you need, including financial assistance.

You can make a major difference to the life of a child and their family
It’s important for families of children with a physical or learning disability, to have a short-break on occasions. Whether it’s for weekends or holidays, parents need to spend time with their other children or just with each other, safe in the knowledge that their child is happy and well cared for in a loving, secure family home environment.
If you can provide this, you can help young children and teenagers to make friends, widen their horizons and encourage their independence.