Shared Care and Befriending

Providing care to children with disabilities on a part-time basis.

Thurrock's "Shared Carers" and "Befrienders" provide vital support to disabled children and young people and their families by offering regular short breaks. These can be anything from just a few hours a week to a few days a month, at intervals that work for you and the family.

To find out more about Shared Care or Befriending please call on 01375 651616.

• Shared Care
• Befriending

Shared Care

As a Shared Carer you’ll become an important part of a young person’s life. But that doesn’t mean to say you have to be extraordinary children with impairments, whether medical, physical or learning, have the same needs as other children. You’ll find our Shared Carers are ordinary people from all age groups and backgrounds, living in all kinds of homes. Some have experience of working with disabled children and some do not, but what all of them have in common is energy, patience, and understanding, as well as room in their home and a commitment to making a positive difference in a child’s life.

This type of part-time fostering is tremendously rewarding. The families of children with physical or learning impairments really appreciate the short-breaks our carers provide. It enables parents to spend time with their other children, or with each other, safe in the knowledge that their child is happy and well cared for in a loving family home environment. It also helps children to make new friends, broaden their horizons and encourages them to be more independent of their families. And, because it’s part-time, it can also be very flexible. We will ensure that whatever arrangements are made work for you and the family concerned.

We understand that choosing to care for a disabled child, even for short periods, is a significant undertaking, and we will guide you through every aspect of the application process to ensure you make the right decision. After your assessment, you’ll be provided with all the appropriate training and support, including financial assistance, your own dedicated social worker and special equipment where necessary.

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Befriending

Growing up is a difficult and complex business, but for disabled young people the challenges and obstacles they face are considerable.It is often the obstacles that society puts in the way that disables young people more than their impairment. Befrienders play a crucial role in helping young people cope with these demands and live more independent, fulfilling and active lives. For disabled young children, it's an enriching experience, and for the Befriender ,it's a tremendously rewarding one.

As a Befriender with Thurrock you'll be matched with a young person who may have physical, medical or learning impairments, arrangements can be flexible so long as you can make a regular commitment.  For a few hours a week or a day each month, you'll provide an outlet for all kinds of social and domestic activities such as swimming walking, shopping, going to the cinema, listening to music, cooking, gardening, reading, sport and games. And although some of these activities may seem quite simple and straightforward, they are instrumental in helping to build a young person's self-esteem and self-confidence .

We will cover your expenses and provide full support and training, so you won't need any formal qualifications. However, it's important that you have patience, empathy, a sense of humour and the ability to build positive relationships with young people.

For further information on shared care or befriending call 01375 652616 or complete the online application form.

Shared Care and Befriending (PDF 178.7kB)

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