Respite Services

Planned Short Breaks

Delta Services provides a planned regional respite service

Respite services are delivered with a person centred focus, individuals are offered placements based on their support needs, common interests /preferences and opportunities to be with friends or make new friends.

Our Ethos & Commitment – Delta Respite Services

Our Respite Service ethos is grounded in upholding the fundamental rights of every person we support. This includes each individual’s right to equality, dignity, respect, privacy, and safety.

We provide a safe, welcoming, and homely respite environment where adults with disabilities can relax, feel valued, and enjoy meaningful experiences. Our service promotes independence, choice, and social connection, while offering families and carers peace of mind.

We deliver high-quality, person-centred support that respects each individual’s wishes, preferences, and goals. Our approach is guided by strong safeguarding practices, continuous improvement, and the HIQA principles of safe, effective, and compassionate care.

What to Expect from Your Respite Break

Introduction

Our team will meet with the service user and their family to complete an assessment, create a care plan, and tour the respite house. We create a gentle transition plan based on individual needs.

Planning Activities

On the first day of a respite break a house meeting is held where plans for the break are discussed as a group. This meeting is facilitated by the staff who communicate with each person in a way that they understand to ensure that all voices and opinions are heard. A plan is made for the duration of the respite break that includes activity choices that each service user has contributed to the meeting. Activities such as trips to the cinema, bowling, days out and meals out are always popular.

Building Relationships

As the relationship develops between the service users and staff, we get to know people’s preferences and ensure that these are offered as choices. The different peer groups are thought about carefully, and opportunities to be with friends and make new friends are considered when planning the breaks.

Feedback

At the end of each stay, we invite feedback to ensure we continually improve and plan even better for the next visit.

*Service users and their families can make requests for specific respite dates for special occasions and the service will work with individuals and their families to facilitate these requests within the capacity of the service.

Who is Eligible for Respite?

Our regional respite service is designed to meet the needs of adults (18+) in the CHO5 area (Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford, and Waterford) with:

A moderate to profound intellectual disability
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A mild intellectual disability with an associated syndrome and/or physical or sensory disability

The Application & Allocation Process

The respite application process is managed centrally by the HSE Disability Team to ensure fairness and prioritisation based on need.

1) Referral Form: The official referral form can be obtained from the applicant's day service provider or the HSE Disability Team (Carlow/Kilkenny) by emailing RegionalRespiteCKK@hse.ie

2) Completion: The form must be fully completed with the service user's consent, paying close attention to the prioritisation scoring criteria for the family/carer.

3) Submission: The completed form is sent directly to the HSE Disability Team at the email address above.

4) Allocation: The form is reviewed by a Regional Allocations Committee. Placements are offered based on the prioritisation score and service capacity. The number of annual nights allocated typically ranges from 7 to 21.

Note: There is currently a waiting list for this service.

Operations

Our service is designed to be a positive and person-centred experience.

Delta Centre regional respite service is open for 6 nights per week Monday night – Saturday night. The service is closed on Sunday night.

Respite breaks are offered on a 3- or 6-night basis.

Individual service users and families are given a minimum of two months’ notice of the planned respite offer and need to confirm acceptance of the offer.

Paul, Respite Service User

“I like going to respite in Carlow as it gives me a break from my normal routine, while there I have a great time and chats with all the girls working there, also the day trips of my choice are always to look forward and I like going to respite in Carlow as it gives me a break from my normal routine, while there I have a great time and chats with all the girls working there, also the day trips of my choice are always to look forward and enjoy, and also being able to relax in my own room on my return, going to Carlow is something I look forward to from the time my visit is over until I go there again. also being able to relax in my own room on my return, going to Carlow is something I look forward to from the time my visit is over until I go there again.”
Michelle, Respite Service User

“I Love lots of different things about Respite when I stay there. I meet my friends and some new friends, I like having my own room. The staff a are really nice and make me my gluten free food and help me with my medication. My favourite things to do in Respite are foot spa, going to the Cinema, out for dinner and loads of nice things like that."