Inter-agency assessment of respite care needs of families of children with special needs in Fife.

BACKGROUND

In response to concern about the respite care provision for parents of children with special needs in Fife a survey was undertaken jointly by the Fife Regional Council social work department and education department and Fife Health Board.

METHODS

A postal questionnaire survey was carried out of families of children with special needs in Fife and a retrospective case review of paediatric admission in two Fife hospitals undertaken to identify episodes of respite care in hospital.

RESULTS

Results confirmed the considerable demand for additional respite services and the need for a variety of types of respite care provision to cater for the differing needs of families. The two most commonly requested services were a small homely respite care centre and holiday playschemes. The quality of services currently provided was generally considered to be good. The numbers of (usually multiply handicapped) children with a specific need for a health professional input during respite care are relatively few but nevertheless are an important group which often receive respite care inappropriately in a hospital setting.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the survey informed the interagency community care planning process and led to the developments of a Fife-wide family-based respite care scheme and a small residential facility in Kirkcaldy district. The latter is jointly funded by the Regional Council and Health Board. The Health Board will provide nursing support to the small residential service so that the needs of the few severely and multiply handicapped children can be better met. The project represents an example of successful interagency collaboration which was based on a joint commitment to assessing health and social care needs and planning services to meet these needs.