Families still waiting for a break
February 2010
Despite increased funding for short breaks, some families are 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 PMLD children 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.
- Download the ‘Still waiting for a break’ report on the Mencap website
- Find out more about Mencap’s Breaking Point campaign
