£13 million a year allocated to improve services for children with disabilities

A £13 million annual allocation to improve services for children with disabilities has been welcomed.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the money will fund plans to increase short breaks capacity and expand family, therapeutic and behavioural supports in the community.

They will be supported by up to £13m a year in additional multi-year funding, including up to £2m for the rest of the current financial year.

Mr Nesbitt said for some time demand had outstripped supply.

“There has been increased demand for family support, short breaks, residential care and transitions support across services for children with disabilities,” he said.

“For some time, demand has outstripped supply with a substantial number of families on waiting lists and a growing number of children on the edge of care.

“With a shortfall in residential placements, trusts have been repurposing short breaks units for longer-term residential placements. As a result, short breaks services across much of Northern Ireland have been unavailable.

“I have been clear that the situation is not sustainable. I believe the funding I have announced will deliver improvements in a matter of months.

“I expect clear and measurable improvements in short breaks, but this is also about providing a much greater level of support in the family home.

“Making additional funding available will not deliver expanded services by itself. We will also need to have sufficient levels of staffing.

“A combined effort between statutory and voluntary sector partners will be required.”

Mr Nesbitt added: “My officials have progressed a significant body of work to develop a Framework for Children with Disabilities for HSC Trusts.

“The full implementation of this will require sustained investment and workforce development over the next several years. However, the scale of this challenge should not deter us delivering better solutions and outcomes today.”

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has welcomed funding to support respite care for children with disabilities.

Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan said: “The SDLP Opposition recognised the important need to have the voices of children and their families included in the debate around the need to expand respite provision, and we secured the support of the Assembly earlier this week. I’m delighted this has now been followed up by the Minister with much needed support for children with disabilities to take short breaks. This will make a real difference for the children and their families.

“The stories I’ve heard from carers and families in recent years has been nothing short of harrowing. Harrowing that the current system means our most vulnerable citizens are not given the support to live their lives with dignity and that our unpaid carers, who dedicate their lives supporting them, feel forgotten and alone.

"In recent years we’ve seen respite provision including short breaks, not just reduced but removed entirely for some families. Respite care should not be treated as a luxury. Since when was a lifeline a luxury?

“This issue gained much attention recently after the airing of the BBC Spotlight programme ‘I Am Not Okay’ which detailed the challenges of parents living with children who have additional needs. There was a huge response to it and I commend the parents involved for their bravery in speaking out and sharing their story, I believe that detailing their experience was key in seeing this funding delivered.

“While this funding is welcome, I note with some concern the Minister’s comments that this will mean there is less money to be spent in other parts of our health service. While I am aware of the challenges facing the department, the SDLP will be seeking urgent clarity on the impact of this.”

Aine Magee, public affairs and media manager for Carers NI, welcomed the announcement.

“Carers are the backbone of our society and it has been clear for many years that access to respite short break services has been a significant issue for many carers,” she said.

“This lack of respite support, alongside inadequate community support, has left carers facing unrelenting pressure of caring 24 hours, seven days a week and in many cases with little or no access to breaks or support to look after their own health and wellbeing.

“We welcome the minister’s intention to deliver some improvements in short break capacity within a matter of months. This will provide much-needed short to medium-term relief for some carers.”