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A lifeline service allowing disabled children and young people the opportunity to grow their independence and confidence through short breaks away from their families and carers could lose its ‘free’ status, as staffing issues and increased demand have left it so stretched that over 30 children are on the waiting list.
The provision – otherwise known as respite care - is targeted at children whose disability impacts on their family’s ability to engage in everyday activities.
The breaks, which allow their families time off caring, can range from one-to-one or two-to-one support in the household and during social activities such as sports activities and cinema visits to overnight residential stays.
But the Children’s Service say that the service is struggling to cope with demand.
46 children are currently accessing a standard short break offer of 198 hours per year – a “high” number compared with UK local authorities – while 32 children remain on the waiting list.
The issue was said to be down to difficulties recruiting appropriately qualified staff, leaving providers unable to provide for all Jersey children eligible for the scheme.
The Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) Department, which administers the scheme, is now proposing to restructure how children’s respite care works.
Under their proposed reforms, three tiers of support would be created: universal services (youth groups, nurseries and sports clubs), targeted support for disabled children, and specialist support for those with the most need. The department suggests supporting all children at the “lowest” possible tier required to meet their needs to free up resources for others “without delay.”
They are also planning to ask parents and guardians to pay for the service, whereas previously they would only pay the price of the activities in which the child takes part. Three-hour weekend group activities would be £5 per session, a three-hour one-to-one support worker session would be £5, and a six-hour school holiday club would be £25 per session.
A new model has also been proposed for managing these payments, involving a budget being set for families following assessment by a social worker. This budget could then be managed by the social worker or the families themselves.
Alternatively, parents could have support arranged for them by the Children’s Service either through their short break service or an approved provider. However, the department warned that there could still be a problem with this option.
“Currently, the complex needs social work team offer the third self-directed support option of arranged support for children requiring specialist support. The limited provider market place in Jersey, does, however result in very limited choices of support for families. For those requiring 1:1 support, providers are struggling to recruit enough suitably qualified staff to meet demand. It is important to recognise that parents/carers choosing direct payments and individual budget options would face these same challenges,” they said in a document outlining the proposals.
In the UK, fees are sometimes waivered for those on a low income. When asked by Expresswhat measures had been put in place to ensure no families would lose out, a States spokesperson emphasised: “We haven’t made any decisions yet about what we will do.”
Children could also see the amount of short break support they get slashed. “One option to improve fairness between those families who are currently accessing support and those who are waiting is to reduce the number of hours of children currently receiving a standard short break offer so that all families receive some support. This might mean that children are only offered a short break every other week.”
However, they said that, if capacity increases, the number of hours of support could also go up again.
Parents and guardians are now being asked for their opinions on the suggested changes.
Those wishing to submit their views can either complete the online survey, email their views to l.perkins@health.gov.je, or attend a drop-in engagement session. All submissions must be received by Wednesday, 21 November.
Drop-in sessions will be held on:
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