AQW 45756/22-27
Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley
Tabled Date: 07/05/2026
Answered On Date: 03/08/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of children under 18 years of age accessing respite facilities for children with learning disabilities, broken down by (i) Health and Social Care Trust; and (ii) type of provision.
Answer:
BELFAST HSC TRUST (BHSCT): Forest Lodge Short Breaks – 6 children/young people Forest Lodge Nursing Short Breaks – 22 children/young people Fostering Short Breaks – < 5 children/young people Barnardo’s Whistlestop – 11 children/young people NORTHERN HSC TRUST (NHSCT): In the last year, 39 children have accessed short breaks in Whitehaven, the Trust’s Short Break Unit. SOUTH EASTERN HSC TRUST (SEHSCT): The South Eastern HSC Trust contracts with Positive Futures, Cedar Foundation and the YMCA who deliver community based Short Breaks on a weekly Basis for a 3-hourly session for 90 young people. The South Eastern Trust’s Community Out Reach Service supports 19 children who have been receiving 2:1 outreach support either weekly or fortnightly. The team have also provided occasional and holiday supports to an additional 32 young people across the service The Children’s Disability Fostering Short Breaks Service – Currently there are 5 approved foster carers who provide a monthly 2-night short break to 6 children and young people and their families. The Trust plan to work towards expansion of this provision. Green Hill Residential Short Breaks Home provides placements 6 nights per week, and 21 children are receiving overnight support over a monthly period. Redwood Children’s Home currently provides both Shared Care arrangements and full-time residential care to < 5 young people. The South Eastern HSC Trust supports 16 children through the provision of morning and after schools’ provision by contracting with the Day Care provider Cool. The Trust supports 7 young people with complex medical presentations within the Short Breaks Nursing Home operated by the Belfast Trust in Forest Lodge. SOUTHERN HSC TRUST (SHSCT): Residential Overnights -33 children Short Breaks fostering – 19 children Children’s Hospice - 31 children WESTERN HSC TRUST (WHSCT): Due to the Trust’s residential short break facilities having been required to provide medium – long term care, respite provision for children under 18 with learning disabilities in lieu of residential provision has been delivered through a mixed model, including direct payments, contracts with specific voluntary sector agencies such as Cedar and Positive Futures. In addition to this, the Western Trust has used specialist services such as Butterfly Lodge and Northern Ireland Hospice for those Children with complex health care and specific nursing needs. Within the Western HSC Trust 15 children currently access NI Children’s Hospice, and 26 access Butterfly Lodge. A Short Break Fostering service has recently been established within the Western HSC Trust, and recruitment of foster carers is ongoing.
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