For families

A straight-talking guide to how Safebreaks works, written with families in mind.

If you are a parent, sibling, spouse or carer of someone with a learning disability, you probably know the two feelings that sit side by side. Wanting more for the person you love. Worrying about who they will be with when you are not there.

This page is for you.

What we believe

We believe support works best when it stretches a person, not shrinks them.

Safety matters. Growing matters too. We build support around outcomes that matter to the person: catching the bus on their own, cooking a meal, managing money, making a friend, going to a gig. Real things, with real stretch.

That means planning for measured, managed risk, alongside the person and alongside you. We talk about it openly. We write it down. We review it. If we got everything perfect on day one, we probably were not trying hard enough.

Support that ticks boxes and calls it a day is not what we do.

What we do, in plain English

Day Services

Group activities during the day.

Learn more

Community Enabling

One-to-one support out in the community and at home.

Learn more

Supported Living

Help to live as independently as possible at home.

Learn more

All three services are for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and associated needs.

We are not a CQC-regulated care provider. That means we do not do personal care (washing, dressing, medication). Where personal care is part of the picture, we work alongside a CQC-regulated provider who does.

Who pays for it

Usually, Devon County Council pays, through a social worker and a care and support plan. Some families use direct payments, where the person or the family manages the money themselves. Both routes work. If you are not sure which applies, we can walk you through it.

How it usually goes

  1. You get in touch

    Through the form on the contact page, or a phone call. Whichever is easier.

  2. We have a chat

    No commitment, no hard sell. If we are not the right fit, we will say so.

  3. We meet the person

    In a setting that is comfortable for them, not a boardroom.

  4. We build a plan together

    What outcomes matter, what support that needs, what the first few weeks look like.

  5. We start, and we keep it under review

    If something is not working, we change it.

Questions families ask us a lot

Will the same people turn up every time?

We aim for consistency. Named workers who know the person, not a rota of strangers. We will tell you upfront what we can commit to, and what realistic cover looks like on the edges.

How do you handle difficult behaviour, or sensory needs?

We take time at the start to understand the person, what triggers them, what helps. We write it down and we share it with the team. We do not fire-fight.

Who do I call if something is wrong?

The service manager. Their direct details are in your plan. If the answer from them is not right, it goes up to the Managing Director, and their details are in your plan too.

What about safeguarding?
We have a full safeguarding policy, staff are trained, and there are clear routes for raising concerns, from inside the team, from you, or from the person we support. See the Policies page for the detail.
What if it is not working?

Tell us. Early. A bad match is a bad match, and the sooner we know, the sooner we can adjust the plan or, if need be, help you look at alternatives.

A word on independence

Want to talk?

Have a chat Read about our services See what's on

No commitment, no hard sell. Every enquiry goes to a named manager who will be in touch.