What we do - Have your say! - Consultations

Parent Carers of Children and Young People with Complex Needs – Have Your Say on the New Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme

As Wiltshire Council continues to make progress in developing the new Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme offer in response to all engagement to date, commissioners are particularly keen to hear from families of children and young people with more complex needs. In order for Wiltshire Council officers to better understand the needs of children and young people with more complex needs, their experiences and support that may be needed going forward, we would be really grateful if you could contribute via a short interactive webinar. Using Mentimeter as an interactive platform, the webinar talks through a few slides and asks five questions. You can answer as many or as few questions as you choose and pause and return to questions as you need to. Please click [HERE] to access the slides. You will need to log into [menti.com], entering the code: 3834 9587 when prompted to submit your responses to the questions asked.

Proposed New Short Breaks Model
If you haven’t already seen the article we promoted in September updating on the new Proposed Wiltshire Short Breaks Model, you can find it [HERE] on the WPCC website.

Thank you in advance for your time in contributing to the decisions about this highly valued offer for children and young people with SEND.

Responses need to be submitted by Tuesday 21st October 2025.

What will your Child do if the Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme Changes Next Year?

Wiltshire Council is currently looking at recommissioning the Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme from 2026. Financial pressures and increasing demand for this scheme could mean that the offer for children and young people with SEND could look very different in the future. This could bring opportunities for some children and young people who are not currently eligible for the scheme, but it could also mean significant changes for many who have been used to the scheme in its current format for many years.

Don’t let the Wiltshire Short Breaks Scheme change without you!
Please come along to one of our face-to-face community engagement sessions to have your say and help shape the future of this important support for children and young people with SEND in Wiltshire.

Sessions will be taking place from 10:30am to 12:30pm in:-

• Royal Wootton Bassett on Wednesday 4th June 2025
• Devizes on Friday 6th June 2025
• Salisbury on Thursday 12th June 2025

These sessions are for parent carers only. Refreshments will be provided and parent carers will be able to claim the following out of pocket expenses: travel/mileage, carparking and childcare.

Booking is essential. Further information including venue details are on the booking form. To book your place, please click [HERE].

Can’t make any of these dates?
A recorded online session will be available after Thursday 12th June 2025 to enable those who can’t make it in person to understand the conversations and considerations, and contribute to the suggestions.

There is also a survey that will remain open until 16th June 2025 - click [here] for further details.

Help to Develop HCRG’s Online Referral Form and Digital Portal

HCRG Care Group, who provide children’s community services in Wiltshire, are developing a digital online referral form and portal for their services. This will enable parents and carers, young people and professionals to refer securely using the online digital referral form. There is also an aspiration that once referrals are submitted, people will be able to visit the online portal to track the progress of their referral.

HCRG Care Group would like to engage with parent carers, to share the draft questions proposed within the new platform and explain how the form will work.

In partnership with HCRG Care Group colleagues, the WPCC is offering a session to gather feedback from parent carers about the type of information and questions being asked in this online form, and to have a conversation about the design of the form.

This will be an online session, via Microsoft Teams, taking place on Monday 10th February 2025 from 10:00am to 12:00pm.

We hope as many parent carers as possible will be able to join and help to shape this piece of work. If you would like to book a place, please contact the WPCC on:- 01225 764647 (option 1), or email: reception@wiltspcc.co.uk. Once booked onto the session, we will send a joining link to all attendees closer to the session.

The WPCC is in conversation with HCRG Care Group regarding the possibility of offering a recorded session for people to be able to view and submit responses, for anyone keen to participate, but unable to attend the live session.