Premium
Finding Out About and Accessing Respite (Short‐term Breaks)
Author(s) -
Hayes Lesley,
Cotterill Lesley,
Sloper Patricia,
Flynn Margaret
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1996.tb00216.x
Subject(s) - respite care , publicity , service (business) , referral , business , nursing , internet privacy , public relations , psychology , medicine , computer science , marketing , political science
The ability of users and their parents or carers to choose services hinges on what they know about them. In a survey of Social Service Departments in England about respite services, the issue of access was considered. Service personnel and publicity were the most commonly mentioned sources of information about respite services. Few of the information sources identified were aimed at the general public or those not already known to services. The average age at which people moved into adult services was between 17 and 19, and people accessed planned respite via assessment, referral and direct application. People waited variable lengths of time for access. The results suggested that information may not reach all those who could benefit from respite. Initial access takes time, and targeting of those traditionally under‐represented in services is limited. Some of the innovative respite services examined have faced similar challenges and successfully overcome them. The provision of individualised support means that these services are well placed to meet the wide ranging needs of people with learning disabilities.