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c/o Council for Disabled Children
National Children's Bureau
8 Wakley Street
London EC1V 7QE
tel +44 (0)20 7843 6082
fax +44 (0)20 7843 6313
[email protected]
Government survey shows majority of families with disabled children do not access care and family support services
19 August 2009
A series of reports published this week by the Department for Children, Schools and Families show that the large majority - over 70 per cent - of families with disabled children are not currently accessing any care and family support services.
The reports, which provide an in-depth analysis of the survey findings for 30 local areas in England, are based on feedback from parents of disabled children on their experience of services. The survey is being carried out as part of the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme’s commitment to introduce a national indicator on disabled children which measures local performance.
The survey findings reveal that of the three key service areas parents were asked about: health, education and care and family support services, it is the latter which parents have rated most poorly. When asked what care and family support services parents have received in the last 12 months, over 70 per cent responded ‘none’.
When asked if they had received all the care and family support services they required in relation to their child in the last 12 months, one third said they had received ‘little’ or ‘none’ of what they require.
According to the survey, ‘care and family support services’ include social worker services, short breaks, childcare and play provision, home adaptations and emotional support.
Christine Lenehan, Director of the Council for Disabled Children and EDCM Board member, says:
‘We are concerned that such a high proportion of parents of disabled children say they do not receive any care or family support services, with one third reporting that their needs are not being met. If we want disabled children and their families to be independent and resilient members of society, appropriate, local care and support services need to be in place. The Aiming High for Disabled Children programme is approaching it’s mid-point in delivery - whilst these figures provide baseline findings, I would hope to see real improvement over the next year.’
Download the disabled children's services national indicator local reports
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