Disabled children who are unable to live at home are doubly needy: in addition to their disability, they are deprived of normal family life. Children who do not grow up in a stable, nurturing environment are unlikely to achieve their potential. Moreover, disabled children often have complex medical problems. Disabled children living away from home are often involved with many different professionals: although individually these professionals may provide appropriate support, the sum of their efforts rarely adds up to the actions of a ‘good’ parent. The book considers the key issues that must be addressed when disabled children move from the family home to new accommodation. It provides insights into the difficulties that these children face and looks at how the standards of care that they receive might be improved. It also makes suggestions about how professionals might work more effectively with each other and with the children's care-givers.
About the Author
Claire Burns has been a consultant community paediatrician for 20 years, during which time she has been involved in the care of disabled children from birth through to early adult life. She has a particular interest in social paediatrics and is the lead clinician locally for 'Safeguarding Children'. For many years she provided medical support for children moving from their family home to alternative accommodation, working with professionals from other agencies. The idea for this book was developed from a two-day Mac Keith workshop on 'Disabled Children Living Away From Home', which was followed by a conference on the topic for health and social care professionals.
