The care system is reportedly failing to adequately support many families raising disabled children, according to Anna Bird, Chief Executive of Contact, a charity for families with disabled children.
Bird states that parent carers need timely access to in-home support, short breaks, and services that address both their own needs and those of their disabled child. She emphasises the importance of providing support early, before exhaustion escalates into a crisis.
The charity highlights that the right of parent carers to have their needs assessed is currently spread across four pieces of legislation, which can lead to stretched services overlooking these needs. The Law Commission's proposal for a single duty to assess parent carer needs is seen as a significant potential improvement, with calls for the government to adopt these recommendations.
Contact has observed an increase in helpline inquiries related to social care complaints in recent years. These complaints are often driven by systemic issues such as failures to assess needs, cuts to support, delays, and shortages of suitable staff and local services.