Evaluation of the impact of Action for Children short breaks services on outcomes for children: final report

This report examines the findings of a study commissioned by Action for Children to explore the impact that their short break services have on disabled children and their families. The study began in August 2010 and an Interim Report was published in September 2010 (Holmes, McDermid, Soper and Lawson, 2010). Phase two of this study was conducted during a period which could be described as a time of substantive economic and political change within children‟s services. This report aims to explore the impact of Action for Children short breaks services on disabled children and their families within this context and seeks to provide an evidence base for the future provision of Action for Children services to disabled children and their families. The study also seeks to examine how good Action for Children are at communicating with different agencies to inform the setting of outcomes within their short break services, and how this improves outcomes for the children and to provide a brief cost analysis for these services.