"Respite Care good from Direct Health"

Both my husband and I were under strain because of the developing support needs related to his condition.

The council supported us in a full needs assessment and put in place support to enable me to take out daughter on breaks to see our friends and family in London. This is because my husband now needs to pick and choose when he can go away with us because of his work and where he can go because of access.

The social worker put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure my husbands safety and the whole family's freedom. As a result my husband, my child and I are feeling as free as we did before my husband's condition progressed that little bit more.

More over me and my daughter said how wonderful it was that we knew that my husbands usual carer was on board for the overnight stays my husband needs to give him the flexibility his independent needs require.

My husband says, no one knows how much he appreciates the support he gets from his carers and the trust he can place in them - he says all he wants is for his carers to receive the working conditions and the rewards they deserve. He says until that happens his carers remain undervalued especially as they are not paid for time between calls. I want to know if my husbands carers are between calls and - if not - why not? !

So thank you Sheffield City Council and thank you Direct Health!