Family Options Respite Programme
Family Options Respite Programme is a regional service that is responsible for the co-ordination of supports for medically fragile children/children with long term, chronic health conditions, aged 0 - 16 years, and their families/whānau within Auckland, Counties Manukau, Northland and Waitematā District Health Boards.
Family Options Respite Programme aims to enhance and optimise the care of the children and their families/whānau in their community by participating in and supporting an integrated model of community paediatric care.
Family Options Respite Programme coordinates the provision of respite funding to families/whānau accepted onto its Core Programme. The support offered is to be used as an additional top up to any supports already in place i.e. Carer Support. Family Options Core Programme is managed by Local Delegated Funding Groups and funding is based on the assessment of need.
From 1st July 2011 Family Options Respite Programme also became the Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) Agency for children requiring supports under the Long Term Supports - Chronic Health Conditions (LTS-CHC) funding stream.
If a child's needs are as a result of a disability they should be referred to their local Disability Support Services (DSS) NASC.
If a child's needs are as a result of an accident they should be referred to ACC.
Referral Expectations
Applications can be made to the Family Options Core Programme through the Local Delegated Funding Co-ordinators, by your medical practitioner, social worker, community nurse or any health professional.
Decisions about funding are made either by the Local Delegated Funding Group or by the Regional Reference Group. These decisions are made based on priority of need at the time of referral. Representatives from Auckland, Counties Manukau, Northland and Waitematā District Health Boards including Social Work, Allied Health, Nursing, Needs Assessment, Paediatrician, Maori Health, Pacific Island Health and Consumers make up the Regional Reference Group. The Consumer Representative on the Regional Reference Group is a parent of a medically fragile child.
Applications to the Long Term Supports - Chronic Health Conditions funding stream will be assessed for eligibility by the Family Options Needs Assessment Team. If eligible then a Needs Assessment will be carried. Once the Needs Assessment is completed a Service Provider will be identified that best suits the family/whānau's needs and Carers/Support Workers will be allocated.
Common Conditions / Procedures / Treatments
Mission Statement
Family Options Respite Programme aims to enhance and optimise the care of medically fragile children/children with long term, chronic health conditions and their families/whānau in their community and supports an integrated model of community paediatric care.
The underlying philosophies are:
- to provide family/whānau centred care with a partnership approach
- to provide culturally appropriate care
- to work in an interdisciplinary team
- to support community based care
- to integrate all services provided in the community by supporting a case management model
- to promote respect and cooperation, valuing the opinions of all those involved in the care of medically fragile children/children with long term, chronic health condiitons.