‘It’s about time’ provides an overview of how local authorities in Scotland are approaching the planning of short break and respite care services. The research, carried out for Shared Care Scotland by Reid-Howie Associates Ltd, focuses on planning and provision within Adult and Older People’s Services.
This report presents the findings of research carried out between April and August 2010 to: improve knowledge and understanding of the landscape of respite care and short break provision for adults in Scotland; identify good practice in the planning, commissioning and design of respite care and short break services; and better understand the challenges and identify solutions to moving towards more flexible, personalised respite care and short break services for adults. The research focused on the views of stakeholders in the public sector, although a number of carers’ and other organisations also contributed views. This research did not set out to be an evaluation of short break provision and the views of both carers and cared for people may be different to those set out in this report.