Only 4% of parents with disabled children say they receive the right support to care for them safely
Disabled children and their families are missing out on vital care and support as a result of government cuts, the Disabled Children’s Partnership (DCP) has found. This is harming children and families’ physical and mental health, breaking parental relationships and causing children to needlessly miss out on school or college. Families of disabled children, backed by the DCP, demand the government gives back £434 million owed to them in social care, support and provision.
DCP’s survey of 3,424 families with disabled children, carried out during April found:
Disabled children are legally entitled to home support, access to equipment and a quality of life. But local authority cutbacks mean they are missing essential services or enduring poor quality support, with the result that children’s health is further deteriorating because of a shortage of equipment, some children are unable to attend school because support is not there, parents are unable to work, families are breaking down and parents’ mental health is suffering. Amanda Batten, Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, says: “Services for disabled children have never been perfect. But cuts to budgets combined with a 33% increase in the number of disabled children over the last decade means we have reached a critical point – one where we need to decide what kind of country we want to be. We’re talking about some of the most vulnerable children in society.
“And that’s why we’ve launched our Give It Back campaign today, calling on the Chancellor to give back the £434 million missing from vital services that help families care safely for their disabled child. This isn’t just about doing the right thing, there is also an economic case here too. Without putting back funding into disabled children’s services, we can guarantee that the taxpayer will be faced with a bigger bill in the long-term. That’s because when families break down, expensive crisis interventions are needed from local councils or the NHS. Join us today in calling on the government to Give it Back.” A powerful short film will be released on social media on 3 June giving voice to parents’ everyday concerns and asking the government to #GiveItBack.
- only (4%) of parent carers feel they get the right support to safely care for their disabled children
- more than half (54%) of parent carers have been treated by a GP for depression, anxiety or stress (including suicidal thoughts)
- 53% of parent carers have been forced to give up a paid job to care for their disabled child
- 40% of parent carers have experienced relationship breakdown with a partner since diagnosis. 64% of those say a lack of support had a major impact on the breakdown of a relationship
- more than a third (37%) of parent carers say their disabled child has missed school or college because the staff or services are not available to support them
- a third (33%) of parent carers say their disabled child has been in unnecessary extra pain because the right equipment, doctor or health service hasn’t been available.
Disabled children are legally entitled to home support, access to equipment and a quality of life. But local authority cutbacks mean they are missing essential services or enduring poor quality support, with the result that children’s health is further deteriorating because of a shortage of equipment, some children are unable to attend school because support is not there, parents are unable to work, families are breaking down and parents’ mental health is suffering. Amanda Batten, Chair of the Disabled Children’s Partnership, says: “Services for disabled children have never been perfect. But cuts to budgets combined with a 33% increase in the number of disabled children over the last decade means we have reached a critical point – one where we need to decide what kind of country we want to be. We’re talking about some of the most vulnerable children in society.
“And that’s why we’ve launched our Give It Back campaign today, calling on the Chancellor to give back the £434 million missing from vital services that help families care safely for their disabled child. This isn’t just about doing the right thing, there is also an economic case here too. Without putting back funding into disabled children’s services, we can guarantee that the taxpayer will be faced with a bigger bill in the long-term. That’s because when families break down, expensive crisis interventions are needed from local councils or the NHS. Join us today in calling on the government to Give it Back.” A powerful short film will be released on social media on 3 June giving voice to parents’ everyday concerns and asking the government to #GiveItBack.