Families ‘let down’ by respite care absence in far north
The absence of overnight respite provision in the north Highlands for youngsters with special needs has taken a major toll on the lives of some families, it has been claimed.
Campaigner Elizabeth Jones said she and others have been badly let down by Highland Council through the ongoing suspension of the service at Thurso’s Thor House.
She knows of one woman who had her four children taken into care, which Ms Jones said might not have happened had overnight respite been available.
“I really feel for her,” said Ms Jones. “She just couldn’t cope without any outside support.”
Reacting to last week’s announcement that the council is gearing up to reinstate it by the summer, she was dubious whether that would happen.
“I’m not entirely sure if I can believe that,” she said. “I’ve been pressing for the last five months for them to give a timetable but it hasn’t happened. In fact, I’ve heard next to nothing from them since they first announced that the service was to come back.”
Ms Jones, who runs Caithness and Sutherland Respite Campaign, has two children who have severe forms of autism.
She moved from Castletown to Thurso four years ago to live next to Thor House, only for its respite service to be pulled before she could access it.
“It was when my son Ollie was four and had just been diagnosed with autism. Since then I’ve been really struggling.
“Ollie’s dad has since had to give up his job to look after Ollie and may have to sell his house while I’m the main carer for my little girl (three-year-old Phoebe).
“I believe families like mine have been treated very poorly on this and that the council has led us all on a merry dance.”
Ms Jones said the plight of families deepened after the Wick-based charity, No Limits Caithness, last May called time on the daycare service it ran for youngsters with additional support needs.
Ms Jones, who has two other children, had lodged a complaint with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, alleging the council was not fulfilling its statutory duty.
She claims the ombudsman, against her wishes, wound up the complaint after the council had intimated it intended resuming the respite service.
An east Sutherland man has meanwhile spoken of the huge support Thor House was in the care of his autistic son.
He said: “Apart from the care they provided, Thor provided transport for the children to and from the centre, which was a major benefit for families, especially when they lived many miles away from it.
“They also took the children on bus rides and day trips, which they loved.”
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said the regular respite visits made a huge difference to his son, now a young adult, and the rest of the family.
He said: “I really feel for the families who have been without this service for so long.
“Just now, apart from education, there are no services for children with disabilities and getting hold of private carers is very difficult.”
Asked whether he thinks the service will be up and running by the summer, he replied: “They are saying the right sort of things but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a gremlin in the works and they announce a further delay.”
The council last week said work on resuming the service is progressing well and it is working towards this happening in “late spring or early summer”.
Respite stopped in 2021 during the pandemic pending a review of how the council provides care for children with special needs. In the meantime, Thor House has been used as a temporary home for looked-after children.
