Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships Short Breaks Policy Consultation - closes 8 March

Opportunities - 30 January 2026

A public consultation is now open on a draft short breaks policy for adults with care and support needs and their families.
On a dark blue image there are various icons arranged in 2 rows - on the top row an online survey, hands raised in the air and speech bubbles; on the bottom row a happy face, a neutral face and a sad face. To the top left corner and bottom right corner are the Healthwatch Surrey speech marks.

Short breaks give people with eligible care needs the chance to enjoy meaningful activities and experiences while their family carers get time to rest and recharge. Short breaks (also known as respite care) can include day, evening or weekend activities provided at home, in residential services or community settings.

The draft policy sets out the county council’s approach to providing short breaks for adults with care needs and their families, in line with its Care Act duties. It is the first time the approach has been set out in a single policy, helping to ensure transparency and consistency.

The draft policy aims to ensure that short breaks are accessible, fair, and meet the needs of individuals and their carers.

Consultation questionnaire

The draft policy and a questionnaire for people to share their views can be found on the Surrey Says website at https://scnv.io/short-break-26

The consultation period will be open for 8 weeks from Monday 12 January 2026 and will close at 23:59 on Sunday 8 March 2026.

Alternative formats

Alternative formats of the questionnaire and draft short breaks policy for adults are available to download from the Surrey Says online platform. Additionally, they can be requested in hard copy (including a stamped addressed envelope to return the questionnaire), using the following contact details: