20/3/2008

Local News

Parents face care hours reduction

Rebecca Connop Price reports

MANY parents of children with learning difficulties will have fewer breaks after Hampshire County Council announced it would be funding fewer sitting hours to carers in the Star area.
At a meeting held last Thursday at The Alton Maltings Centre, parents heard they will receive, on average, 72 hours per year, as opposed to last year’s average of about 104.
The sitting hours service sees qualified carers come into the family home to look after the disabled child while the child’s main carer has a break.
Parents often use this valuable break to spend time with their other children.
The scheme is administered by Parkside, a Mencap-affiliated charity in Guildford Road, Aldershot, but funded by the county council.
In December, the sitting hours were suddenly cut, after Hampshire County Council ran out of funds to continue the service. It became unclear whether the county would allocate any hours in 2008-09.
But on Thursday, the county said it would continue to fund the service – albeit families would get, on average, fewer hours.
Ted Parker, Parkside’s chairman, said: “We’re pleased that the contract has been replaced, that some hours have been identified for respite and accept that the hours are more realistic than last year.
“But  we need to monitor the situation very carefully and as the year goes on, it will become clear if people can manage or if they can’t.”
He said parents should stay in touch with their social worker to keep them informed about how they are coping. He added: “Seventy-two hours per year is not a lot. It’s not a huge break and often it’s the only break they get.”
The meeting at Alton Maltings Centre was, according to Mr Parker, “emotional.” He said only about five of the 28 families that use the Parkside service could attend, but they were very vocal – and were able to explain what the sitting service meant to them.
Hampshire County Council’s executive member for children and families Coun Patricia Banks said: “Hampshire County Council's priority has always and will continue to be to provide this service, that these children and families receive through Mencap, on behalf of the county council. We are committed to them and the continuation of respite care for them.
“We are also committed to ensuring that every family that is assessed as needing this service is given an adequate allocation of hours based on a care assessment of their needs and as with all service contracts the county council has with independent, voluntary and partnership orgnaisations, there are terms and condition which apply including those relating to the level of service and the financial considerations.
“The county council has met with Mencap to work through a number of issues. The sitting service is designed to give families short periods of respite where they can have a break from caring in order for them to carry out an activity of their choice, for example leisure activities.”

First printed in: Surrey Hants Star