Planning Care for Children in Respite Settings: Hello, This Is Me

Developed in response to a practice need, this book offers a new approach, centred on the child's abilities, to the planning of respite-care provision. With its positive focus on emerging levels of independence in disabled children, the "Hello, this is me" model provides a method of assessing and planning care for children with a variety of needs. The authors emphasize a partnership between families and carers which enables children and parents to make their voices heard when planning respite care, so that each child's unique needs can be met. This model allows carers to calculate the amount of support each child will need, but, more importantly, it ensures that respite care is not just a break for families, but an enjoyable experience for the child. T his innovative, clearly explained approach to care planning should be useful for providers of specialist care for children.