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Respite Care review

Parents, carers, children and young people are all being invited to have their say on Hertfordshire County Council's short break services.

A thorough and county-wide review of the residential and respite care services for disabled children is being carried out by the Children, Schools and Families (CSF) department.

And as part of the review, CSF is asking parents, carers and young people to let them know what they think about current services and how they think future provision should look.

Carers in Hertfordshire, an independent voluntary organisation, is carrying out the consultation with parents and carers of children with disabilities and they have sent out a questionnaire this month (Feb). This will be followed by a series of 10 focus groups to be held at various locations around the county.

Children and young people will also be consulted about their views on the service in a separate consultation carried out by the University of Hertfordshire.

As well as those people using the short break services at the moment, families who may use the service in future are also able to contribute to the review.

Karen Leverington, a parent from Stevenage, added: "This is our chance, as parents and carers, who actually use the service, to make a difference. I would urge as many people as possible to make their voices heard."

And Becky Wellsted, a parent from Hemel Hempstead, also urged people to fill in the questionnaire and return it but also to go along to one of the focus groups where there will be an opportunity to discuss issues in more detail.

The responses to the questionnaire should be returned by Tuesday February 19 either by post to Carers in Hertfordshire 119, Fore Street, Hertford, Herts SG14 1AX by email at contact@carersinherts.org.uk or fax 01992 586959. Responses which arrive late will still be used as part of the consultation.

The University of Hertfordshire consultation with children and young people starts later this month and should be completed by April.