Demand for respite care ‘doubled’ as Thurso service suspended, figures show
The only centre in the far north which offered overnight respite care for disabled youngsters in the far north was mothballed at a time when the number who could potentially benefit from the service in the Highlands more than doubled.
The figure has been unearthed by a new group which is campaigning to reinstate the role previously performed by Thor House in Thurso.
The four-bedroom unit run by Highland Council provided short-stay respite breaks for children and adults with special needs.
The service was suspended during the Covid pandemic and has not been restored pending a review carried out by the council.
In the meantime, it has been used to care for looked-after children following the closure of the £1.2 million Avonlea children's home in Wick.
Research carried out by Caithness and Sutherland Respite Campaign challenges the council's claim that there has been reducing demand for respite care at the unit.
Highland Children and Young People Partnership's study, in June last year, found that 43 per cent of pupils had special educational needs in 2021. That compared to 20 per cent in 2012.
The number of looked-after children in the region fell from 82 to 62 between 2017 and 2022.
A council study last year, meanwhile, found that 16 youngsters in the far north were in need of overnight respite care, amounting to a total of 500 hours.
Group founder Elizabeth Jones said: “If these children were known to Highland Council as in need of respite care across Caithness and Sutherland, then why has nothing been done?
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“Why is it still claimed that Thor House is ‘too large a provision’ when it only ever contained a maximum of four beds for respite care?”
She added: “Why is it still being claimed that the demand for respite care is no longer there?”
Ms Jones, whose 12-year-old son Ollie is autistic, said the statistics show a marked increase in the need for respite care at a time when the number of youngsters in care has fallen.
She said: “Instead of leaving Thor House as it was, we now have the bizarre situation whereby it is closed for children with additional needs and has instead opened its doors to children in residential care.”
Ms Jones said since starting up the campaign group, she has become aware of just how many other far north families are desperate for some form of respite provision.
“Since it started up in mid April, we’ve had 190 members join and they feel as frustrated and let down as I do.”
Ms Jones and her family live close to Thor House but have never been able to use its services.
She suffered a fresh blow after the Wick-based charity, No Limits Caithness, in May pulled the plug on the daycare service it ran for youngsters with additional support needs. Ollie had used to go there every second Saturday and during some school holidays.
Ms Jones said since then, she has been unable to use any of the Self Directed Support (SDS) payments earmarked to support Ollie.
“I cannot access any day care or overnight respite and haven’t been able to find a personal assistant for him. The SDS money is just swishing about in Ollie’s bank account. There’s nothing to spend it on.”
Ms Jones believes Highland Council has wound up the respite service at Thor House by stealth.
“There was no public consultation and it appears that right from the start, this has all been down to money,” she claimed.
“It has had nothing to do with the alleged decline in need or Brexit or the pandemic or problems in getting staff for the unit. As long as 10 years ago, it was earmarked as a cut.”
Ms Jones was invited to give an update on the group's campaign at Tuesday evening’s meeting of Thurso Community Council.
The community council has been prominent in highlighting the major gap left since respite care was suspended at Thor House.
Secretary Iain Gregory said: “Clearly there continues to be major concern among members of the public about this issue.”
Local Highland Councillor Ron Gunn said five Caithness members recently backed a motion to restore respite care at the Thurso centre and to review the controversial decision to close Avonlea.
It had failed to win the day after a split vote and the casting vote used by council convener Raymond Bremner.
Councillor Gunn said a subsequent forum in Wick had made clear how many far north families have been affected.
“The council seems to think that it's a very small number but they are totally wrong in that,” he added.
Caithness colleague Andrew Jarvie said he could not understand the logic behind Avonlea's closure and the loss of the respite service in Thurso.
“I really don't know what planet they are on,” he said. “They broke something that was working for no reason.”
Thurso Highland councillor Struan Mackie said passing the motion would have helped the authority rebuild bridges with the community and the service users. “I can't believe they didn’t do that,” he said.
Community councillor Billy Sinclair described the outcome as “absolutely terrible” and '“scandalous”.
“The more we dig into this, the more dirt we’re going to uncover,” he said.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The council, in its pursuit of an overnight short break facility in Caithness, is reviewing options with abroad range of partners.
“These options will be thoroughly evidence-based, drawing on the most reliable and up-to-date data available. Importantly, there has been no decision to permanently close down Thor House.
“We are also working closely with a member of the Caithness and Sutherland Respite Campaign group and hope to work with other carers in improving options for parents and carers requiring short breaks.”
