AQW 22059/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 06/02/2025
Answered On Date: 25/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any measures his Department currently implements to ensure full time carers for those who have complex care requirements receive respite.

Answer:

Monitoring and analysis of short breaks (respite) for mental health, older people, physical and sensory disability services and learning disability services are integrated into standardised performance monitoring arrangements between HSC Trusts and Department of Health officials. Within children’s services there is ongoing regional monitoring of short break provision for children with disability.

It is acknowledged that there are challenges accessing short break services regionally across children services. In October 2024, the Minister approved additional regional funding for the children with disability service. It is intended that this funding will assist with increasing short breaks capacity, and expanding family, therapeutic and behavioural supports.

Emergency short breaks are available for children and adults. It is provided in critical or unforeseen situations when primary caregivers are unexpectedly unavailable, through illness or emergencies, or there may be a safeguarding concern which may mean that care needs provided outside of the family home.