RESIDENTS, particularly children and young people with disabilities and their families, are reminded that they have until next Monday (October 2) to make their views known on proposals for overnight residential respite care.

As part of Hampshire County Council’s work to deliver vital services, in the face of ongoing national austerity, the authority wishes to explore the possibility of re-designing the overnight respite service with a view to providing a wider range of options which could offer families greater choice and flexibility in the type of support they access.

To do this, the county council has conducted an eight-week consultation on proposals to close two residential respite care homes – Merrydale in Winchester, and Sunbeams in Aldershot. The outcome of this consultation could help to shape the future of overnight respite services for children and young people with disabilities, and their families.

Keith Mans, Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for children’s services, said: “I am very keen that residents, and particularly those that could be directly affected by proposals on possible changes, have the chance to make their views known. I am acutely aware that this can be an unsettling time for those families but I must stress that, at this stage, no decisions have been made.”

All those that could be affected by the proposals, if they are taken forward, and the wider public are encouraged to make their views known via the online consultation response form at hants.gov.uk/consultations.

Hampshire County Council is aiming to develop a potential offer with the choices that children and young people with disabilities, and their families, are asking for.

For example, the offer could include commissioning a much wider range of services comprising whole family breaks, specialist foster care for one or a number of nights, home care breaks with a carer staying overnight in the home, and activity centre trips, as well as residential respite care provided by other organisations.

Following the close of the consultation on October 2, and analysis of the responses, a report on the feedback will be prepared for Mr Mans to consider later in the year – together with recommendations for a decision on the future direction of the respite care homes.