To ask the Minister of Health whether children receive their days in respite which they are owed but were lost due to last-minute cancellations.

It is recognised that regionally availability of short breaks / respite for children with disability is a pressure across the HSC Trusts, and my department is aware that families have been impacted by the current limited availability of short break support for their children.

Department officials have contacted all five HSC Trusts in respect of the query that you have raised regarding short break / respite cancellations, and if children receive the days that they are owed if these are cancelled.

The Belfast HSC Trust has informed my department that there are two facilities that provide overnight short breaks for children within the Belfast Trust area. One of these Short Break facilities is a Trust provision, whilst the other an external provider. The Belfast HSC Trust has stated that if overnight short break provision has had to be cancelled by the Trust provision which is a very rare occurrence, then alternative short break provision is provided to ensure families receive the respite required.

The Belfast Trust’s external short break provision has been operational since July 2024, and the Belfast HSC Trust report that no issues of cancellations have been evident to date. However, the Trust has stated that if the provider has to cancel for whatever reason, every effort would be made to make the short break / respite up.

The South Eastern HSC Trust has informed my department that in the event of Short Breaks being cancelled at short notice - the Service will adopt a flexible approach and work with the family in a bid to reschedule the provision of the Short Breaks. Furthermore, in the event of rescheduling, the South Eastern HSC Trust advise that the Service will generally provide an alternative to support the family such as community outreach Short Breaks through the community outreach service, LynC outreach. The LynC Outreach Service within SEHSCT focuses on supporting extremely vulnerable young people and their families who are on the edge of care or where their home circumstances are under significant pressures. The LynC Outreach Service consists of a small group of skilled mix staff (from nursing and social care), and the service can provide opportunity for day short breaks for families who are experiencing significant pressures (i.e. through taking the young person out of the family home to engage in activities).

The Northern HSC Trust has advised my department that there are several reasons that children may lose out on their respite due to cancellations, either on the part of the provider or occasionally parental cancellation. The Northern HSC Trust informed my department that unfortunately the Trust is not always in the position to be able to provide additional respite to cover those cancellations.

Within the Northern HSC Trust it can also be dependent on the service provision. Through Sharing the Care (short break fostering service) there is more opportunity to offer additional respite for emergency cancellations, however, within the Trust’s Short Break unit - this is not often possible, given the number of children who access this service.

The Northern HSC Trust has stated that there are occasions where there is an increase offered in an alternative service such as Direct Payments, and children are occasionally offered additional short breaks within their Short Break unit if there has been a cancellation made by a parent.

With regard to the Southern HSC Trust, this Trust has informed my department that they seek to keep cancellation to a minimum, however on occasions cancellations may occur, due to a number of competing demands in respect of some family requirements for Short breaks prioritisation and service capacity due to unforeseen staff absence. The Southern HSC Trust has stated that every effort is made to compensate families for cancelled short breaks services, however competing demands can impact on full reimbursement.

The Western HSC Trust has advised my department that due to the current closure of both their units to residential short breaks in Rosebud Cottage and Avalon House – they have no capacity to backfill days lost due to cancellations. Social work staff within the Western HSC Trust reassess families to ensure that alternatives are considered, such as direct payment carers to provide short breaks in the family home. The Western HSC Trust remain hopeful of reinstating a limited residential short break capacity by the end of October 2024.

The Community Children’s Nursing Team within the Western HSC Trust also offers short breaks in their residential setting – Butterfly Lodge based on the Altnagelvin site. The unit can offer short day breaks - 08.30am – 7:00pm for up to 3 children on a daily basis depending on the level of complexity and staff availability. Over-night short breaks in Butterfly Lodge can be offered for 2 nights usually Friday am – Sunday pm. This again is dependent on the level of complexity of the child and staff availability. Should the nurse have to cancel a short break in Butterfly Lodge, they will reschedule this as soon as possible. Should the family cancel - they are placed back on the normal short break schedule.