Distressed parents reach 'crisis point' and are unable to 'function properly'
Distressed parents in one part of Merseyside said they're at 'crisis point' and are calling on Sefton Council to provide more respite facilities for children with special educational needs. The parents are part of a local campaign group 'Voice of the Families' (VOF) which offers peer-to-peer support for parents of children with SEND and disabilities.
The group's appeal to Sefton Council was made during an Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Children's Services and Safeguarding last night Tuesday January 28 at Southport Town hall. Elected members heard a number of agenda items including a petition submitted by VOF entitled: 'Establish Fair, Reliable, In-House Respite Services for Carers in Sefton'.
The petition was written by Julie Hennessey and detailed the urgent need for more respite provision for children and families in the borough, stating: "As a witness to the distress of parent carers reaching crisis point within our community, I call upon Sefton Council to take immediate action.
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"Some parents are house bound whilst attempting to meet the needs of children without a school place. They're giving up their careers and are struggling to manage."
The petition was presented to the committee by VOF spokesperson, David Moorhead who expanded on the importance of respite care, he said: "Many families in Sefton suffer from the fact they are often unable to function properly as a family because they have a limited support network. They have children who have very high demands. So they do need respite.
"Some are single parents who often find themselves needing a hospital appointment, which they can't go to because they are looking after their children. They can't have an operation which could be life threatening if they can't go.
"They are trapped in their own homes, because when the schools have failed to provide provision, when they have turned to social care and asked and begged and begged and begged for care. They got nowhere.
"So they are declining hospital appointments. They are declining so many things."
Responding to the petition, committee chair, Councillor Judy Hardman acknowledged the need for more respite care in Sefton and explained the local authority is in the process of delivering more provision. Cllr Hardman cited the ongoing development of Springbrook which provides planned overnight, short breaks for children with learning and physical disabilities, some of whom may have complex medical needs.
Cllr Hardman added: "Children with complex needs in Sefton currently have various resources available to them to access short breaks.
"These include 'Aiming High', 'Buddy Up', plus aiming high provides play and activity sessions for children aged five to 18 after school and at weekends, as well as during school holiday periods. Families have offered positive feedback about aiming high and sessions are particularly well attended during the holiday and weekend periods.
"In total, 464 children accessed Aiming High in 2023 to 2024. During the summer of 2024, 250 families accessed family sessions at Aiming High and 275 individual children accessed the sessions during the summer period.
"We recognize that services such as Aiming High and youth services such as Buddy Up might not meet the needs of all children. We've taken on board feedback from parents about the need for creativity and developing our own in house service. We're developing an outreach service, and this will be up and running by the end of April 2025."
The committee also assured parents that many of the concerns raised in the petition are being addressed and will update the group via scrutiny meetings later this year.