Also known as respite care, these involve a person with care and support needs spending regular short periods away from their main carer, to give the carer a break and the person a chance to do something different. These breaks may take place in the person's own home, in the home of an approved carer or in a residential placement.

When a person with care and support needs spends regular short periods of time away from their main carer, in order to give the carer a break and to give the person with needs a chance to do something different. These breaks may take place in the person's own home, in the home of an approved carer or in a place such as a hospice. Councils in England are required to provide short breaks services for children and young people with disabilities.