What can a Family Liaison Service offer families of children with disabilities and/or developmental difficulties?
Tizard Learning Disability Review
ISSN: 1359-5474
Article publication date: 22 June 2023
Issue publication date: 12 July 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Families of children with disabilities experience many challenges, which Sparkle’s Family Liaison Service (FLS) aims to alleviate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the service.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative interviews with ten families who had accessed the FLS and 14 professionals working with children with disabilities were conducted in 2020. Interview transcripts were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis.
Findings
Families valued an accessible service and a neutral individual who could empathise with them. Professionals highlighted the FLS relieving pressure they felt to provide informal support for families they work with, resulting in considerable time saving.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first evaluation of the novel FLS meeting the unmet needs of families of children with disabilities. The service equips and empowers caregivers to enhance their own lives and the lives of their children and family.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declarations: BC is employed and funded by Sparkle (South Wales), the registered charity (1093690) that developed and now delivers the service evaluated. SM is an unsalaried trustee of Sparkle.
The authors would like to thank Fiona Elliot, BSc, MSc, for research design, participant recruitment and data collection. The authors would like to thank families and professionals who volunteered their time to participate in the evaluation.
Funding: No funding was received to conduct this evaluation.
Citation
Collins, B., McGrath, N.A. and Maguire, S. (2023), "What can a Family Liaison Service offer families of children with disabilities and/or developmental difficulties?", Tizard Learning Disability Review, Vol. 28 No. 1/2, pp. 33-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLDR-11-2022-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited