GreenHill Time Line

Greenhill Respite – Timeline

January 2021 – Introduction (Service Level Agreement)

 

The Trust began operating a chalet at Greenhill YMCA, Newcastle under a Service Level Agreement (SLA).

 

• Not a Trust-owned facility
• YMCA outdoor centre
• Chalet-based provision

 

Introduced to parents as a short-term overnight respite option

 

Facility Environment

• Limited internal space
• No enclosed garden
• Small balcony area

Not comparable to a residential short break setting

 

2022–2023 – Reduced Availability

• Reduced to approximately 3 nights per week

June 2023 – Commitment to Expansion

Correspondence from the Trust confirms:

• Permanent funding for staffing at Greenhill was secured

• Plans were in place to recruit a permanent team

“The longer term plan is that when we have the permanent staff team in place we will be opening Greenhill 7 nights per week.”

This set an expectation that Greenhill would operate as a full-time short break service.

• Limited number of children accommodated

Availability reduced despite expansion plans

 

March 2025 – Meetings

At meetings held in March 2025, it was communicated that:

• 5 March 2025:

– Still reduced - 2 nights

– A 4-bed provision at Greenhill would be introduced

– A 7-seater vehicle that, would be prioritised to support children who use wheelchairs

• 31 March 2025:

– The 4-bed provision at Greenhill would not proceed until the Trust could demonstrate that the service was operating efficiently, with two beds in use, 7 nights per week

This reflects a change in position within the same month regarding planned capacity at Greenhill.

2026 – Transport & Access

• Same vehicle still in use

• Ongoing breakdowns and repairs
Resulting in:

• Parents required to transport children

• Some families unable to take up placements

This raises questions about how transport arrangements are supporting access to the service in practice.

 

2026 – Service Delivery

• Greenhill is operating 6 nights per week

• Reduced to one bed

• Staffing reported as near full capacity

• At times, respite is cancelled due to emergency placements

This can result in families having no access to short break provision.

This reflects a reduction from two beds, to one bed, and at times no beds available for short breaks.

As set out in the timeline, parents have repeatedly been told that change is coming — yet years later, provision has reduced to one bed, with no clear indication of improvement.

Enough is enough. These are our children we are talking about!

2026 – Letter to Families.

The Trust has issued correspondence to some families confirming that it is:

• “unable to provide overnight short break placements”

This correspondence does not apply to all families and reflects one approach taken in response to reduced respite provision.

The letter states:

“the inability to provide an overnight short break placement can have a significant impact on families, particularly during school holidays when access to regular support is vital.”

As a response, the Trust states it is offering:

“a one-off Activity Grant of £500 to families who are currently awaiting overnight short break provision.”

The letter further states:

“This single payment reflects the Trust’s wider commitment to ensure that all children have access to play, leisure, and support that promotes their physical and emotional wellbeing in the absence of being able to provide overnight short breaks. It is also a response to findings from the Northern Ireland Review of Children’s Social Care Services…”

Eligibility (as set out in the letter)

To be eligible for this grant:

• The child must be under the age of 18

• The child must be known to Children’s Disability Teams

• The child must be on the waiting list for residential overnight short break services

This raises questions about how that impact is being addressed in practice where overnight respite is not currently being provided and has been reduced.

It also raises questions about access, where some families are not receiving respite and are not on a waiting list despite ongoing need.

I am highlighting this information for transparency, to set out what has been communicated to families and how this reflects current service provision in practice.