Two-thirds of carers for disabled children are not offered an assessment

Only 34% of carers for disabled children are offered an assessment, according to a study commissioned by CIW with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.

Although the figures are up from 3.5% in 2016-17, this new study confirmed that ‘carer’s assessments were not routinely offered nor completed in line with legislative requirements.’

This assessment is a legal entitlement to assess the need for accommodations such as:

• Help with taxi fares
• Training on how to lift safely
• Putting carers in touch with local support groups

Although the report states that a number of practitioners said that parents/carers denied assessments, there was not always evidence to support these claims.

The report also found that the pandemic had had a significant impact on support services, with many carers saying that this had a ‘detrimental impact’ on them, their disabled child or children, and their family, as they were not receiving adequate support.

This has now been flagged as a ‘priority’ area for improvement by the CIW, whilst other areas have been highlighted for their success – such as safeguarding disabled children, with “good joint working” as well as a specific note for those local authorities who provided specific training for disabled children and safeguarding.

Waiting lists also meant that support for siblings and young carers of disabled children was ‘inconsistent along Wales’, with parents stating comments such as: ‘My eldest child was part of the Young Carers Project and absolutely loved it but they asked her to leave after a year because of waiting lists. Having to leave affected her badly.’

The CIW suggests that this is another area that needs to be strengthened.