Respite care is a form of temporary care that enables you to take a much-needed break from looking after your disabled child.
It’s a source of support that’s available to ensure that you’re able to prioritise your own mental and emotional health and wellbeing – and it is your legal right to have an assessment for respite care carried out.
This kind of service allows you to take a break from caring while your child is looked after by someone else and it can be tailored to suit your specific requirements, whether you just need help for a couple of hours or need someone to come for a short stay so you can go away on holiday.
You could, for example, take your child to a day care centre to give you some free time, or you could bring in a paid carer to come and stay with them within the comfort of your own home.
Local council funding
It is possible to have your local council pay for respite care, but you will need to have a free carer’s assessment carried out. Your child should also have a need assessment conducted. These can both be done at the same time. For both assessments, get in touch with your local council’s adult social services department.
Funding can come directly from your local authority, but in this instance they’ll organise the dates on which you can receive respite care. Another option is to ask for direct payments or a personal budget, in which case you’ll have to organise the respite care yourself, although it will mean you can be more flexible about when you take time off.
Respite grants/funding
It is possible for respite care to be funded through different disability grants, or via the Family Fund for those on a low income with a disabled child. Note, however, that most available grants won’t pay for services that you’re able to access via your local authority.
Carers Trust also offers a respite fund for carers and you may be able to receive this as part of a support package from your local Carers Trust network partner.
Self-funded
If you don’t qualify for help from your local council, also known as self-funding. Even if you do decide to self-fund for whatever reason, it is still advisable to have a carer’s assessment carried out.
If you have applied for support from your local council but haven’t received a package of support, you can always appeal the results of the carer’s needs assessment.
Note that if you use savings to pay for respite care, it won’t be considered to be deprivation of capital, which is when you deliberately reduce your money so you don’t have to pay for services such as social care.
It can be difficult to navigate the respite care funding landscape, so if you’re struggling and aren’t sure where to turn, get in touch with the Concept Care team and we’ll be able to answer any questions you might have.
