Armagh City Hotel meeting rallies families to save incredABLE short-break service

More than 140 people gathered at the Armagh City Hotel to defend a short-break service described by families as essential to people with learning disabilities and autism, and to the relatives who care for them.

The meeting was organised by incredABLE after the charity warned that its Adult Short Breaks Service could be forced to stop operating because of a registration dispute with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). The service supports more than 150 people with learning disabilities, autism and their families across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.

Participants, parents, carers, supporters and stakeholders attended the at-capacity Parent and Carer Information Evening. Local political representatives including Dáire Hughes MP, Eóin Tennyson MLA, Gareth Wilson MLA and Doug Beattie MLA also heard from families and committed to lobbying for a quick solution at the highest level.

Why the service is under threat

incredABLE said RQIA has advised that the Adult Short Breaks Service must be registered or “cease and desist”. The charity supports appropriate regulation, but says no existing registration category properly reflects its community-based short-break model.

The organisation has been seeking registration proactively while continuing to argue that the current interpretation of the rules could result in the loss of a service that has operated safely and successfully for more than 20 years. It said no safety or quality concerns had been raised about the service and that recent monitoring visits by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust had been very positive.

incredABLE has provided support to children and adults with learning disabilities and autism for almost three decades. Its community-based work is intended to promote independence, inclusion, personal development and social participation, with short breaks, residential experiences, peer support and respite for family carers forming a key part of that provision.

Families describe the wider impact

Parents and carers told the meeting that the service gives participants opportunities to build independence, friendships, confidence and life skills. It also provides families with vital respite, particularly for relatives who often provide round-the-clock support.

The charity said the meeting produced a shared determination among families, participants, elected representatives and incredABLE to challenge the current interpretation of the regulations and find a practical solution while wider regulatory issues are considered.

It believes the dispute raises broader questions about whether Northern Ireland’s regulatory framework remains suitable for modern, person-centred disability support. The framework was developed more than 20 years ago under the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

incredABLE has also warned that if the current interpretation were applied consistently across Northern Ireland, other charities and social enterprises providing similar community-based overnight support could face comparable difficulties.

What happens next

Nigel Hampton, incredABLE’s chief executive, said families expected all parties to work together to protect the service. He said the charity wanted the Department of Health, RQIA and elected representatives to identify a proportionate solution that safeguards existing provision while longer-term legislative questions are examined.

“The strength of feeling expressed by families at this meeting was both powerful and deeply moving. The message from the room was clear: people do not want to see these valued services disappear and they expect all parties to work together to find a solution.”

incredABLE is continuing discussions with the Department of Health, elected representatives and other stakeholders. It has also launched a public petition on Change.org and is encouraging families, supporters and members of the public to sign it and share the campaign on social media using #SaveOurShortBreaks.

The charity is calling for immediate action to prevent the loss of existing short-break services, interim arrangements allowing them to continue, greater transparency about registration requirements and a regulatory framework designed for community-based overnight support. It also wants decision-making to keep the rights, independence, inclusion and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities and autism at its centre.