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Struggling families lacking in essential respite support from local authorities.

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2025 September 4 . 9:30 AM

2 min read

Struggling families lacking needed relief services from local officials

Struggling families lacking in essential respite support from local authorities.

In a recent report by the BBC's Spotlight programme, the stories of four families in the UK were highlighted, each with a child who is Autistic and has a severe learning disability. The families, including those of Eoin, Theo, Rudy, and impliedly Danny, have been struggling without respite support for about seven years.

The South Eastern Health Trust, responsible for Danny and Rudy's care, did not comment on their cases. Similarly, the local authority has not been able to find a provider that can meet James' complex needs. The families are willing to wait for a suitable respite option, but only if it ensures the safety, well-being, and happiness of their children.

Currently, the family is in discussions with a potential respite center, but a solution has not been found yet. The report details instances when the children become distressed and the families' responses. The Trust stated that it understands the pressure on families but cannot offer respite due to beds being used by children needing long-term placement. It also expressed hope for future funding.

The current situation is considered unsustainable by the new Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt. He has expressed his determination to see "urgent improvements" but no immediate action has been taken yet.

The landscape for respite support in the UK is multifaceted. Approximately 10-16% of looked-after children in the UK are in residential care, with numbers rising in some areas. Residential care is mostly for teenagers, often those with complex needs or multiple placement breakdowns. However, foster care remains preferred where possible due to the benefits of family-based environments.

Organisations like Jothno Care offer home-based respite care for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to support families directly in their home environment. Charities such as Haven House provide social care-funded placements including emergency, respite, and stabilisation care for children with complex healthcare needs.

Accessing respite care often requires assessments by local councils, which then decide eligibility and type of respite support. NHS continuing healthcare can cover some long-term complex health needs, but is typically not suitable for respite care specifically. Families can also use platforms like Curam Care to arrange paid respite care, with flexibility and control over selection of carers and payment.

Organisations such as WellChild facilitate playschemes and specialist-supported activities during school holidays, providing additional respite opportunities. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, especially as increasing numbers of children with complex needs require care, and local authority shortages can limit immediate options. There is ongoing advocacy for more foster carers with skills to look after complex needs and more robust, flexible respite options to adequately support families.

Mark Arnold, Director of Additional Needs Ministry at Urban Saints, has allowed the re-publication of this article. The report, originally published in Evangelical Focus and on Arnold's blog, The Additional Needs Blogfather, highlights positive moments as well, emphasising the importance of community support and understanding for families in similar situations.

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