News / disablities
Decision day for respite care home
Campaigners are hoping for a last minute reprieve for a respite home in Brislington which cares for severely disabled people.
School Road provides respite care or short breaks for up to seven disabled people in a home-from-home environment and is used by some 50 families in Bristol.
However, officers for Bristol City Council have recommended closing the unit – saving £290,000 a year. It is proposed instead that School Road be replaced by a Shared Lives scheme for disabled people to be cared for by other families in their own homes. Councillor will make a decision on the unit at a meeting tonight.
is needed now More than ever
Bristol City Council have said Mayor George Ferguson will not be at the cabinet meeting tonight because “there is a risk that some people feel the Mayor had already made up his mind on this issue” which is ” absolutely not the case”. Deputy Mayor Councillor Geoff Gollop will be in his place.
More than 500 people have signed a petition calling on the mayor to “abandon his plans to close” the home claiming, “whilst there are alternatives to this type of respite care on the care market which are being investigated, it takes time for people with learning difficulties to accept change”.
Special needs educational consultant Freja Gregory has backed the families calls saying she “understands” the budget restraints, but the people who use School Road “are extremely difficult to find care for except in proper unit staffed by trained people who know how to meet their needs”.
“What the council are trying to do is offer shared care with foster carers which, for some people is very good, but it is almost impossible to find foster carers for the most disabled.
“If school road closes some of these people just won’t get respite car any more and families will suffer and they will suffer.
“It means a huge amount to people…it doesn’t mean the families don’t love the people they care for – they are passionate about them, but they do desperately need help. It makes a huge difference.”
Mike Hennessey, Service Director for Adult Care & Support at Bristol City Council, said: “We have been working very closely with families and carers. We know how important respite care is as a part of support for families and that some families are concerned about using alternative services and ongoing access to support and the impact of change.
“Social Workers have worked with service users and carers and undertaken detailed assessments, at the Mayor’s request, to ensure that proper alternatives are in place for respite care, should this be needed.”
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