Our recent Development and Delivery Allocation survey indicated that a number of carers services in Scotland were interested in exploring the brokerage model of short breaks delivery and how this could work as a way to increase capacity and offer carers greater choice and control in getting the right short break in the right way and at the right time.

Shared Care Scotland is bringing together a group of people – some with experience in brokerage and some at the start of their journey – to explore, share and develop ideas for short breaks brokerage.

Our intention is that this online discussion session will be the first part of a staged process with a focus on positive and forward-looking actions and with different opportunities and ways to participate throughout. For example, this is likely to include:

• Developing a vision for short breaks brokerage

• Identifying what makes effective brokerage

• Recognising and building on existing good practice

• Identifying the support required to develop good brokerage locally.

Involvement will suit the different stages but may include different people at different times in different ways, e.g. online sessions, in-person workshops, e-contributions, show and tell session, and individual calls.

This initial exploration session on 27 October will run for an hour and will be an opportunity to discuss what developing short breaks brokerage might mean to you.

To make the discussions productive, it would be helpful for you to consider the following ahead of the workshop:

• Definitions: What do we mean by short breaks brokerage?

• Components: What are the building blocks – the essentials – of a brokerage service?

• Support: What support – resources, professional learning, networking, mentoring – do organisations need to develop an effective and high-quality brokerage service?

• Next steps: How might you – or others – contribute to developing that support?

Please note there are no right or wrong answers! We want this to be the start of an open debate, informed by diverse ideas and experiences. The outputs of the workshop will help us shape our thinking and the development of a brokerage project plan.

We will share the Zoom link with all registered participants two days before the event takes place.

Short Breaks Brokerage Online Session