Future of Respite (Short Breaks) Services for Children with Disabilities

Consultation Proforma

The aim of this consultation is to obtain views from consulteesand we would be most grateful if you would respond by completing this form. Please answer each question by writing your comments in the space provided. The closing date for this consultation is 26May 2014 and we need to receive your completed form on or before that date. You can respond to the consultation document by e-mail, letter or fax as follows:

Equality Unit

8e Coleraine Road,

Ballymoney,

Co. Antrim,

BT53 6BP.

Tel: 028 2766 1377

Fax: 028 2766 1209

Textphone: 028 2766 1377

E-mail:

So that we can acknowledge receipt of your comments please fill in your name and address or that of your organisation. You may withhold this information if you wish but we will not then be able to acknowledge receipt of your comments.

Name:
Position:
Organisation:
(if applicable)
Address:

We propose to work in partnership with parents, carers, children and other organisations, in developing our range of respite services to provide a wider, more flexible service, to enable greater choice and fairer access

1.Do you agree with the Trust’s overall plan to review services to children with disabilities and complex physical health and social care needs with the aim of ensuring equitable access based on assessed need; safe and effective care; flexible and sustained provision; support networks for parents and carers?

Yes No Don’t know

Please tell us what you think:

2.Please tell us what you think about out plans to developa wider range of age-appropriate day support and respite/short breaks to meet the changing needs of children that will also offer greater choice and fairer access?

  1. It is our intention to develop a replacement purpose built respite unit to cater for a wide range of children with disabilities and physical complex health needs This unit would be built in a more central geographical area. What are your views on this proposal?

Agree Disagree Don’t know

Please tell us your views:

  1. Cherry Lodge Respite Unit has been temporarily closed since May 2013. During this period respite has continued to be provided from Whitehaven, through Direct Payments, from Sharing the Care Short Break Service, day dare and domiciliary care (or a mix of these).

What are your views on our suggestion to combine our resources and continue to provide residential based respite from Whitehaven Respite Unit and Rainbow Lodge? (We are also progressing plans for the development of our Sharing the Care Short Break Service).

Agree Disagree Don’t know

Please tell us your views:

  1. The Trust is committed to promoting Equality of Opportunity and Good Relations. Having considered our EQIA please tell us if you feel our proposals will have an impact on any of the nine equality categories?

Thank you for taking the time to respond

to this consultation process.

Trust Response and Freedom of Information Act (2000)

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust will publish an anonymised summary of the responses received to our consultation process. However, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, particular responses may be disclosed on request, unless an exemption(s) under the legislation applies.

Under the FOIA anyone has right to request access to information held by public authorities; the Northern Trust is such a public body. Trust decisions in relation to the release of information that the Trust holds are governed by various pieces of legislation, and as such the Trust cannot automatically consider responses received as part of any consultation process as exempt. However, confidentiality issues will be carefully considered before any disclosures are made.

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