2.4 Admission to Hollybank

The referral is agreed at the disability resource panel, the decision about level of service is sent to each unit, and parents are informed.
The nominated senior makes the initial parent contact from Hollybank.
Arrangements are than made for a home visit; the social worker is also invited to go along.
The profile, parent contract and consent to care forms, must be taken to the first meeting and discussed.
The senior and the parent must discuss the level of respite agreed and the 4 night holiday allowance given at Hollybank.
Arrangements are to be made by the staff to visit the school to see the child in its school environment and to make links with class staff, whilst they get copies of relevant school programmes and plans.
Hollybank staff must explain to school staff the importance of writing in the home school contact book especially when the child is in respite as this ensures continuity of care.
The Hollybank staff member then books another visit to see the child and parents at home, to continue to work on child's profile and collect back all signed documents given on first visit.
The first visit to Hollybank to be arranged either for parents to go on their own or with child whichever is preferred.
Letters are then to be sent out to all professionals working with the child including the child's GP, to get a summary of current involvement, and to request that you are now added to that professionals cc list when sending out information regarding that child.
The named staff member must ensure that the child's profile, care agreement and consent to care forms are completed and signed by the parent showing their agreement for the child to have short-term breaks at Hollybank.
Dates can then be set for initial tea visits and make sure the following are informed: parent, social worker, transport, school child's personal file.
Once a child has successfully completed their tea visits, the child, staff and parent feel happy, and confident, overnight stays should be booked.
Before a child has their first over night stay the completed LAC papers must be signed and in the child's file.
When the child and family feel confident with the respite service they are receiving at Hollybank, then overnight dates must be set at the agreed level and LAC papers must be signed and in place. If the transition to overnight stays takes longer than 3 months, a review must be held with relevant people to look to resolve why this is not being achieved.
Once a child has an overnight stay then a 3 monthly review will be held to get together to see how the short term breaks are working, then reviews will be held at regular 6 or 12 monthly intervals. This review will look at the child's needs; it will review the child's eligibility criteria and discuss the short-term break service.
A social worker, the parent/carer for the child, the key worker from Hollybank and a representative from the child's school must attend all reviews. There may be at times the need to invite other people/professionals to reviews if deemed necessary.

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