The amendment means that local authorities would have a duty to promote the wellbeing of parent carers when they assess the needs of families with disabled children under 18 years old.
Commenting on the amendment, Andrew Fletcher, Director of External Affairs at Together for Short Lives said: “This is welcome news for parents of children and young people who need palliative care. Caring for a child with a life-threatening and life-limiting condition can place an enormous strain on parents, who often have to juggle the physical and emotional demands of looking after an unwell child with a full-time job and care for other children in the family. Yet, too many parents of disabled children struggle to have their caring role recognised, which means that they go without practical support.
“Together for Short Lives calls on councils to implement the new law to make sure that parent carers’ needs for support are assessed and met.”
Also welcoming the amendment was Carers UK Policy Director Emily Holzhausen: “We know that parents of disabled children struggle to have their caring role recognised. Our research found that whilst a third (32%) of all full-time carers go without any practical support this rises to almost half (47%) of carers caring for disabled children under 18. Without the same rights to a carer’s assessment, getting support and recognition would be even harder.
“Caring for a disabled child can take a huge toll on the health and wellbeing of their carers. Because of these proposed changes local authorities will now have a duty to promote the wellbeing of parent carers when they look at the needs of families with disabled children.
“As the Care Bill streamlines and strengthens the rights of other carers, making local authority responsibilities for assessing their needs and promoting their well-being clearer, the Children and Families [Bill] will now do the same for parent carers.”
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