FAMILIES who want respite care services to resume in Clare House have been told that “this is not compatible” with a setting that is regarded as an individual’s permanent home.

Clare House, on the Chanterhill Road, is a domiciliary care facility run by the Western Trust, providing supported accommodation for those who have enduring mental illness.

At a recent meeting of Fermanagh District Council, Independent Councillor for Erne West Bernice Swift revealed that she had been lobbied by concerned families on the removal of respite services a number of years ago.

She stated: “Respite care services within Clare House have completely stopped for families throughout the county who gladly availed and needed this facility during critical times when dealing with complex mental health issues.” Continuing, she said: “Clare House is a domiciliary care facility within which all service users have their own tenancy and some time ago families were advised by RQIA that the Western Trust could no longer provide respite within this facility as it is at odds with the registration and regulation.” Councillor Swift added that families had been assured that the Trust would continue to provide respite within Enniskillen in the form of short breaks and outings.

“Nevertheless,” Councillor Swift continued: “Families demand that we (the Council) ask RQIA for a review of their requirements to fill the abject gap for them as service users immediately.” Clare House previously provided an alternative to hospital service for five service users but this service was closed on March 5, 2013.

The nursing and support staff assist residents with personal care, administration of medication, guidance with personal finances, maintaining a tenancy and involvement in the local community. The nursing staff do not undertake any nursing tasks.

A spokeswoman from the Western Trust told The Impartial Reporter: “Clare House is registered as a Domiciliary Care facility by the Regulation Quality and Improvement Authority (RQIA) under the Domiciliary Care Regulations (NI) 2007.

“There are currently 17 individuals living there. Respite provision ended in 2012 following registration with RQIA as it is not compatible to have a respite facility located within a registered domiciliary setting which is deemed to be an individual’s permanent home.

“Respite is currently provided via the Respite Team which includes day activity and short breaks, for example, in the month of September 2014 this amounted to 1,256 hours with 118 carer contact hours.” An RQIA spokesman told The Impartial Reporter: “The Western Health and Social Care Trust first registered Clare House as a domiciliary care agency with RQIA in May 2012. Clare House provides a personal care service to people who live in their own homes, both within Clare House itself and in other accommodation nearby.

“In line with The Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, respite care cannot be provided by a service that is based around people living in their own homes. As such, the Western Trust ceased the delivery of these services within Clare House. The commissioning and provision of respite services is a matter for the Western Trust.”