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6 January 2010
Families still waiting for a break
Despite increased funding for short breaks, some families worse off than in 2008
New research from Mencap has revealed that despite increased levels of government funding for short breaks, some families with severely disabled children are actually receiving a reduced level of service compared with 2008.
As part of Mencap's ‘Breaking Point' campaign, ‘Still waiting for a break' reveals that a £370 million package provided to local councils in 2008 – along with another £270 million for primary care trusts – is failing to meet the needs of many families of children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
Mencap worked with 40 families living in nine areas in England to find out whether those who most need short breaks are now getting them, and whether families of children with PMLD are still being allowed to reach breaking point.
It found that 3 in 10 families are receiving no short breaks or a reduced level of service compared with 2008, and only 1 in 4 of the families saw an increase in their short breaks in 2009.
"The conclusion of our work is that families of children with PMLD are still not a priority for local councils and primary care trusts," says Lesley Campbell, Mencap's national children's officer. "Children with PMLD provide the litmus test for the new funding for short breaks. If it is not reaching the families with the most complex needs then this investment is failing to reach its target."
Launched in 2003, the ‘Breaking Point' campaign calls for a minimum level of short breaks for families caring for children and adults with severe and profound learning disabilities.
"It is of great concern that six years on so many families of children with PMLD still feel close to breaking point. The government funding that was designed to provide a ‘step change' in short breaks is not having the positive impact that was envisaged for these families," says Lesley Campbell.
Find out more about Mencap's 'Breaking Point' campaign
Your comments
25 January 2010 MICHELLE.CHINERY
SURREY COUNTY COUNCAL HAVE ALL READY CLOSED SAME PLACSE WHICH GIVE BREAKS TO PEOPLE WITH LEARIING DISABITY IN SURREY AND ARE TRYING TO CLOSE TWO MOOR PLACES WHICH GIVE RESTNIT TO PEOPLE WITH LEARING DISABITY AND A BEARK ROR FAIMILY MEMBERS FOR SAME IN SURREY WHO GET LITTLE HELP FROM SOCAL SEVICES AND HAVE TO BE AT BEARKING POINT TO BE ABLE TO REST BIT
11 January 2010 robert dorrian
my wife and i look after our daughter danielle,and have since she was born,she has angelmans syndrome this condition leaves her with profound physical and mental disability's,she is now coming up to 21years of age,since she turned 19,what services we had, have practicly vanished,no respite,no social events to do without us being their quote(,it just like falling of a cliff)unquote.
