The features of short-break residential services valued by families who have children with multiple disabilities

• Summary: Children with physical and intellectual disabilities can place extra demands on their family carers. The need for short-break (respite) services is well documented but little research has been undertaken into the features of these services that families value. A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods was used. In the first phase, 108 parents in urban and rural areas described the features they liked about the short-break services they had received and the perceived benefits to them and their child. Their replies were validated at a consultation seminar with over 30 carers and professional workers. Apool of 47 items was then devised and in phase two, a sample of 59 families used them to rate one of three short-break services they had used. • Findings: Twelve distinguishing items were found across the three services. They were grouped into three distinct factors: characteristics of the services (eight items), benefits to the child (two items) and benefits to the carer (two items). Variations were found in carers’ expectations that need further exploration. • Applications: These findings should facilitate the development of quality standards for short-break residential services and help in the commissioning of services that accord with user aspirations