The report, Supporting disabled adults in their parenting role, was the work of a taskforce made up of representatives from government, social services, voluntary organisations and disabled parents' organisations. It criticised the development of Primary Care Trusts and Government plans to focus services in Children's Trusts, as outlined in its recent Green Paper Every child matters.
The report said, 'Joint working between adults' and children's services may become more difficult, and disabled parents in contact with children's services - because their children have been identified as being "in need" or "at risk" - may find it harder to get assistance with their parenting role.' It said disabled parents in these situations were at risk of losing their children into care.
The report found that disabled adults incurred extra expenditure, including an increased reliance on convenience foods, childcare and more expensive social activities, because cheaper options were inaccessible. 'The benefit system recognises the additional costs of parenting a disabled child, but the additional costs of parenting because of parental impairment or ill health are not acknowledged,' the report said. Disabled parents also faced significant barriers in accessing health services, including antenatal and maternity care.
Many social care professionals, the report said, 'appeared to assume' that disabled parents needed care rather than support in their parenting role and that their children would be 'better off' with a non-disabled parent.
Jenny Morris, an independent researcher and author of the report, said, 'There are major problems in the relationship between children's services and adult community care services that could get worse under the arrangements being introduced unless positive steps are taken at both national and local level.'
She also called for a change of attitude. 'Disabled parents who gave evidence felt that professional thinking and needs assessments were overwhelmingly focused on their incapacity as parents, rather than identifying the right support to enhance their parenting skills and ability.'
The taskforce has called on the Department of Health to work with disability organisations to develop a national protocol and practical guidance for assessment of needs, and to make it clear that adult community care assessments should include help with parenting.
The report is available on the website www.jrf.org.uk.