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Publications

On this page you will be able to download publications from Shared Care Scotland and read about projects 'in the pipeline'.

Publications can be also requested by emailing us at office@sharedcarescotland.com or by contacting our office on 01383 622462.

Most of the documents below are PDF files and you will require a PDF reader to open the file. Readers such as Acrobat are free to download.

Recent publications:

Easy Evaluation Toolkit

The Easy Evaluation Toolkit is designed to help people evaluate their short break or respite care service. Created in 2013 by Shared Care Scotland, Evaluation Support Scotland and a panel of third sector managers, the toolkit offers a framework, case studies and useable tools to help you.

Click on the image to download

Short Breaks Fund: Round 2 Evaluation report

The Short Breaks Fund represents a substantial investment by the Scottish Government in
the development of short breaks’ provision. Scottish Government, Shared Care Scotland
and the NCO group are keen to make sure that there is a legacy from this investment, not
simply in the form of additional or new short break services, but through better knowledge about what works well in short break services, and about what carers and those they care for need and value.

This report evaluates the impact of funding on 58 projects and...

Reviews the individual projects and explore their achievements and challenges
Considers how well Round Two projects have contributed towards delivery of the outcomes set for the Short Breaks Fund
Considers how well Round Two funded projects delivered the principles of the Short Breaks Fund
Captures and highlight examples of innovation, good practice and learning
Makes recommendations for improving the reach and impact of the Short Breaks Fund in the future

Click on the image to download a pdf Evaluation Report on Round 2 of the Short Break Fund.

Rest Assured? A Study of Unpaid Carers' Experiences of Short Breaks

This report completes a two-part research project that was undertaken to improve our overall knowledge and understanding of short breaks provision in Scotland. It’s about time: An overview of short break planning and provision in Scotland (Shared Care Scotland/Reid Howie) was published in 2010.

The findings that have emerged across both pieces of research reveal there is still a long way to go before national outcomes to protect the health and wellbeing of carers, and to enable them to retain a life outside caring, are realised for the majority of Scotland’s unpaid carers. With less than one in every two carers surveyed in this research accessing short breaks, there is still much to be done.

The reports and the data behind them can also be seen on the IRISS website here.

Click on the image to download a pdf of the Rest Assured? summary report.

NEW: Rest Assured Discussion Framework

Shared Care Scotland has produced a companion Discussion Framework to help local areas explore the findings of the Rest Assured? research. Download this document here.

Click on the image to download the pdf of the Rest Assured? full report

Short Breaks Fund - Evaluation of Round 1 Projects

The Short Breaks Fund was launched in November 2010 and has been made available through funding from the Scottish Government in recognition of the important contribution which carers make in caring for a loved one, and the vital role breaks play in sustaining carers and those they care for.

With a foreword by Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson this report considers what projects from the first round of funding have achieved, and captures their challenges and from this considers what learning can be taken forward into future funding allocations.

Click on the image to download the executive summary of the March 2012 report (pdf)

Click on the image to download the full March 2012 report (pdf)

Inspiring Breaks Programme - Evaluation Report (August 2011)

Our funding from the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) enabled us to develop
and deliver a Scotland wide programme of local Inspiring Breaks workshops to support
individuals with long term conditions and unpaid carers to be more actively involved in
selecting and shaping the short break and respite care services they receive, and to
consider they outcomes they would wish such a break to have. The workshops took place
between October 2010 and June 2011.

Click on the image to download the August 2011 report in full (pdf)

Click here for information about our Inspiring Breaks Planning Resource

It's About Time: An overview of short break (respite care) planning and provision in Scotland (November 2010)

This research was carried out for Shared Care Scotland by Reid Howie Associates. The report presents the findings of research carried out between April and August 2010 to:

improve knowledge and understanding of the landscape of respite care and short break provision for adults in Scotland;
identify good practice in the planning, commissioning and design of respite care and short break services;
and better understand the challenges and identify solutions to moving towards more flexible, personalised respite care and short break services for adults.

The research focused on the views of stakeholders in the public sector, although a number of carers’ and other organisations also contributed views. This research did not set out to be an evaluation of short break provision and the views of both carers and cared for people may be different to those set out in this report.

Click the image to download the November 2010 report

Occasional Papers series

The purpose of our Occasional Papers is to promote (and provoke) new thinking around how we plan and deliver short break services to produce better outcomes for all concerned. Papers will focus on particular issues affecting people who use these services and their carers, but also the challenges facing service providers and those making strategic decisions.

How are we Doing? Measuring Short Breaks

Exploring the importance of measuring the impact of short break planning and provision. The paper also includes a framework of outcomes and indicators that might be used to measure performance improvement.

Click here to download 'How are we doing?' (January 2013)

More Than a Break

A discussion paper on the short break needs of children and young people with disabilities and their families.

Click here to download 'More Than a Break' (March 10)

A Break in Communication

Our first paper looks at the importance of trust and confidence in building a successful relationship between people who use short break services and their carers, and the people providing the service

Click here to download 'A Break in Communication' (September 09)

Other Shared Care Scotland resources include:

Give us Break: Turning Commitments into Action (March 09)

This guide has been produced to make people aware of and explain important developments relating to the future planning and availability of short breaks and respite care. The guide is mainly aimed at carers and service users but will also be of interest to those involved in the local planning and provision of services.

Click here to download the Guide

Good Practice Guide to Developing a Short Break Bureau

This guide has been produced to examine different approaches to the short break bureau model of respite care planning and support.

For further information, click here

To order, click here

'Something To Look Forward To'

A new DVD based resource. The DVD includes a short film with carers and care recipients offering advice and encouragement to those thinking about using short breaks and respite care. Click here for more information.

To view the film online click here

Breaking Through: our report into short break services for carers and care recipients from BME communities. The report highlights the steps that service commissioners and providers can take to enhance the 'cultural competance' of there services.

Click here to download a pdf version of 'Breaking Through'

Options Review: published in 2005 examines some common myths with regards to short breaks/respite provision as well as giving some real life examples of what has been provided by way of short breaks/respite inclusive of associated costs. The most common routes to accessing such services are also outlined.

Click here to download a pdf version of 'Options Review'

Making a Break: a study commissioned by Shared Care Scotland and undertaken by Robert Gordon's University (2004). The purpose of the research was to investigate the role and outcomes of respite care (for specified care groups)and to consider appropriate outcome measures for the evaluation of respite interventions.

Click here to download a pdf version of 'Making a Break'