Shaping the future of short break services in South Tyneside
We led a crucial co-design project to reshape short break services in South Tyneside. By focusing on the unique, lived experiences of families and people with learning disabilities through surveys, field trips, and co-design sessions, a new service specification was developed that prioritises safety, accessibility, and person-centred care.
For families of people with learning disabilities, short breaks aren’t just a welcome rest – they are essential. They provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to enjoy new experiences, develop skills, and build friendships, while giving families vital time to recharge.
Recognising the importance of meaningful involvement, the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB), working alongside South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, commissioned a continuation of engagement activities. Olovus, with our partners Twisting Ducks, led this work to ensure the voices of people with learning disabilities and their families directly shaped the way forward.
Between July and December 2024, we worked closely with families to:
- Carry out surveys and conversations to understand needs and concerns.
- Organise field trips for families to trial short break services in other parts of the region.
- Facilitate feedback and co-design sessions where families set out their principles and priorities for a new model.
One of the most powerful parts of the project was the opportunity for families to try short break services elsewhere and share their feedback. We arranged trips so families could experience overnight stays at two very different services.
Families who visited an outdoor activity centre described their stay as “out of this world”. With adapted activities like climbing, archery and the famous “king swing”, people with learning disabilities were not only included but encouraged to try new things in a safe, supported environment. Specialist equipment, attentive staff, and inclusive facilities meant that parents could relax and enjoy watching their loved ones thrive. For many, it was the first time they had seen such joy and independence in this kind of setting.
Their experience at an accessible caravan park was more mixed. While the accommodation felt safe, accessibility was a challenge, particularly for wheelchair users. Their feedback was constructive and clear: if short break services are going to work, they must be designed with accessibility in mind from the start.
These visits were more than just days out; they provided vivid, first-hand insights that no survey could capture. Families were able to compare what worked well and what didn’t, and commissioners could hear directly how those experiences should shape future services. The result is a much richer, more grounded understanding of what families want; services that are safe, accessible, and genuinely fun.
Through workshops and facilitated discussions, families identified what “good” looks like in short break services. Five clear principles emerged:
- Communication and trust: clear, honest information and continuity of staff.
- Person-centred care: services tailored to individual needs and preferences.
- Safety and security: reassurance through well-trained staff and safe facilities.
- Flexibility: the ability to adapt to family circumstances and emergencies.
- Service integration: links with social care and community activities.
Families also prioritised features such as trained staff, accessible facilities, secure accommodation, and specialist equipment. Their voices shaped the design of the new service specification.
The culmination of this programme is a new service specification for short break services in South Tyneside, which will now go out to procurement. Importantly, families will continue to be part of the process, with representation on the procurement panel itself. This ensures the co-design approach runs all the way through to delivery.
The project has not only created a blueprint for inclusive, safe, and person-centred short break services, but has also demonstrated the power of working alongside families as equal partners.
By putting lived experience at the heart of commissioning, the North East and North Cumbria ICB is setting a standard for how learning disability services should be developed, grounded in trust, transparency, and community voice.
Jay Hare, chief executive at The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company, said:
“Olovus are a really valued partner. They bring a wealth of insight and expertise, and their collaborative approach has been vital in this project.
By working alongside families and people with learning disabilities, they’ve helped to break down the barriers that often prevent people from being involved.
That’s meant the voices of those with the most significant challenges have genuinely shaped the new short breaks model, making sure it reflects real lives, builds trust, and leads to lasting positive change.”
Caroline Latta, director at Olovus, said:
“This project shows what can be achieved when families are genuinely involved in developing the service itself.
The new service model is rooted in their experiences and priorities, and we’re delighted that representation will continue right through to commissioning decisions.
Thank you to NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board for investing in a thorough, inclusive involvement process, and thanks to the families and people with learning disabilities who trusted us with their stories and insights.
It’s a real example of co-design in practice, and it aligns perfectly with the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan to strengthen community-based services that keep people safe, connected and supported close to home.”
