Plans to overhaul short break services offered to disabled children and adults will move to the next step, after the council gave the green light to proposals this week.

A fresh consultation will now be launched into how the new short breaks strategy for the next three years will be delivered, after receiving feedback from service users on plans over the summer.

In June Bucks County Council (BCC) launched a review of how short breaks are offered, after some carers revealed they reached “crisis point” before they received help.

The council has also admitted it is difficult to manage demand for overnight short stays in the face of limited funds, as the budget is expected to be cut by around £500,000.

The report presented to BCC’s cabinet on Monday states many of the responses received during the first round of consultations were positive, however a range of questions and concerns were also raised.

Some services users asked for more clarity on what the new approach to the service actually is, while others raised concerns about difficulties getting transport to the breaks, as well as issues transitioning to the adult service once a young person turns 18.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, cabinet member for children’s services, Warren Whyte, said the council is working to provide a more joined up approach to adult and children’s short breaks, as well as provide a more flexible service.

He said: “As well as a much more dynamic and more focused offer for children, we will deal much better with the transition period when children get older and they move into adult social services.

“Because we know with some children whatever their condition may be they will require adult social services when they get to 18.

“The point of having this joined up consultation and the joined up strategies is that we can manage that in a much more productive and seamless manner.

“I think some of our residents have passed comments before that we are not as good as we could be on that at the moment.”

The summer consultation identified the aims of the strategy, while the next round of talks will establish exactly how the service should be delivered.

Director of joint commissioning, Jane Bowie, said the council will be looking to use more community day centres to provide short breaks.

She added the new strategy will work to provide more short breaks closer to people’s homes, which should in turn alleviate concerns about transport.

Councillor John Chilver raised concerns people may struggle to understand the language used in the report, stating: “I found the 150 pages in the report quite challenging to get through.”

Ms Bowie said action has been taken to ensure people understand the report as fully as possible.

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, Lin Hazell, added: “It is a big piece of work, it is a very important piece of work, we would urge everybody that has carers and those of an age where they need these kind of breaks to look in and consult on this.”