All Local Authorities will be required to provide short breaks for parents and carers who look after a disabled child, under plans announced by Ed Balls and Diana Johnson.

The Government knows that for many parents caring for their disabled children can over time place a tremendous strain on them and their families. Short breaks from their caring responsibilities can and do make a vital difference to their lives and the lives of their children. Short break services include day-time or overnight care in or out of the home.

As part of the DCSF's consultation on disabled children’s services in 2008, parents said more short breaks provision was their greatest priority. The government responded to this and committed £280m in LA grants over the period 2008-11 specifically to improve these services. The range and type of short breaks has grown with the support of the Aiming High for Disabled Children funding.

To build on this progress, the DCSF launched a public consultation which, if agreed, will require all LAs to provide short break services for parents who care for disabled children.

View the full consultation on the DCSF website 

Consultation deadline: 24 April 2010