YOUNG people accessing respite care in North Somerset could be given the chance to learn new skills and become more independent when a new service is introduced next year.

North Somerset Council wants to redesign its short breaks provision for children and young people with additional needs following the introduction of the Children and Families Act 2014 in September.

The changes are likely to have major implications for how services are organised and delivered for people aged up to 25.

Planned changes would see traditional respite care reshaped to help promote independence, and a support service for the young people and their carers introduced.

The decision to seek such a service provider comes after a year of work carried out with parents of disabled children and young people to understand what can be improved.

A council spokesman said: “The aim of the procurement decision is to ensure there is a range of different options available, focused on parents receiving the break they need and children work to be as independent as they possibly can in the future.”

The council hopes the procurement and implementation of the new service from April 2016 will save it more than £500,000 over the contract period.