AQW 19922/22-27
Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down
Tabled Date: 13/12/2024
Answered On Date: 02/01/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any ongoing work by his Department to support parents and guardians whose children have been diagnosed with (i) autism spectrum disorder; (ii) learning difficulties; and (iii) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Answer:
In October 2024, I was pleased to announce additional regional funding for the Children with Disability Service. It is intended that this funding will assist with increasing short breaks capacity, and expand family, therapeutic and behavioural supports. The challenges faced by those caring for children who have additional needs is fully recognised, and the positive impact that breaks from caring can have on mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. DoH has received proposed Short-Term Actions to assist with alleviating the pressures experienced within the Children with Disability Service from all Trusts. These proposals will provide increased residential and short break capacity across the Trusts for Children with Disability, in addition to expanding family, therapeutic & behavioural support. The Children’s Social Care Reform Programme are reviewing models of short breaks for children which are working well, to understand how they could be replicated and expanded across Northern Ireland. This includes additional residential capacity as well as specialist short term foster care. There is also a plan to change legislation so that, where it is appropriate to do so, some children can receive short break care without becoming ‘looked after’. It is important to recognise that overnight residential Short Breaks are only a part of the continuum of services needed for children with disabilities, and the opportunities to expand support services that can be provided in the community are being actively considered. Other supports include Self-Directed Support (SDS) options. Direct payments, available through Self-Directed Support increases choice and promotes independence providing for a more flexible response to meeting the needs of service users. Managed budgets as a way for people to manage and pay for their care and support needs. In a managed budget, a Trust holds the budget, but the individual has control over how it is spent. It is recognised that further work is needed to ensure that people supported by HSC can avail of managed budgets, subject to assessed needs. Carers Assessments are also offered and completed, when appropriate. Parents and guardians of children diagnosed with ASD, ADHD or LD will have access to all of the supports available through HSC Trusts including access to specialist advice and signposting. Advice and signposting for Autism ADHD and Learning Disability is available through the Family Support NI website. FamilySupportNI - Family support and childcare services across Northern Ireland Search Results in Disability - Learning Disability, Autism, ADHD Category Help and support is specific to individual families and there is specific ASD supports available in each Trust at the web links below. BHSCT - Pre-diagnostic Resources - 1 Paediatric ASD Resources - Northern Health and Social Care Trust Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Co-ordinator (South Eastern Trust) - Directory Listing Autism Services - 1 (SHSCT) Children and Young People’s Autism Service | Western Health & Social Care Trust
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