Policies fail to acknowledge or support fathers of children with learning disabilities in their roles as carers
16 June 2009
Many fathers of children with learning disabilities want to be more involved in the raising and caring of their offspring but experience a lack of support from employers and social services, according to a new report from the charity, the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
More than 250 fathers gave evidence for 'Recognising Fathers: A national survey of fathers who have children with learning disabilities’, The report found that the majority of fathers who responded played a significant role in caring for their child, and more than 90 per cent felt that their involvement had a positive impact on their child’s development.
But the learning disability charity argues strongly that current policies and practices do not sufficiently acknowledge or support fathers in their roles as carers, and as a result their own health needs and employment opportunities are being negatively affected.
Impact on fathers’ physical and mental health
A lack of support impacts on fathers’ physical and mental health, says the report. The majority of fathers consulted (93 per cent) reported having experienced stress most or some of the time and over half said their physical health had been affected. More than two-thirds said they never spoke to any professional about stress or their health yet nearly half said they felt they needed more help.
‘Recognising Fathers’ also found social isolation to be a major problem. While over three-quarters saw their partners as their main source of support, 56 per cent wanted more help from friends and family. Four in 10 fathers said they had no close friends to talk to about their situation and more than half said they had lost touch with friends because they have a child with a learning disability.
Loss of income
The report also identifies the importance of workplace flexibility to fathers caring for children with a learning disability. Half of fathers surveyed had experienced a loss of income because of their caring role, or had missed career opportunities because they were unable to work as required by their employer. Many felt they would like to spend more time with their children but work was the main reason stopping them from doing so, because employers were unable or unwilling to provide flexible working arrangements.
The level of information about work flexibility available to working fathers was found to be seriously inadequate. More than half were unaware of their right to request flexible hours and 75 per cent did not know about their entitlement to unpaid parental leave.
Fathers’ importance ignored by services
Despite growing evidence that fathers of children with learning disabilities are heavily involved in their upbringing, support services continue to focus primarily on mothers, says 'Recognising Fathers’. Many fathers report that they felt excluded by health and social care professionals, particularly at the time of diagnosis when only a quarter of fathers felt they received adequate support. Six out of 10 fathers felt that health and social care practitioners made more of an effort to communicate with mothers than fathers, even when the father is the main carer.
Stephen Spence, married and a father of two daughters, one of whom has a learning disability, said:
“Caring for a child with a learning disability can be really tough but because I’m a man, people often assume that I’m strong enough to handle the pressure. I’ve experienced health problems as a result of the stress it brings. Healthcare professionals sometimes find it strange that I’m there at appointments about my daughter with a learning disability, and if my wife is present the professionals talk to her and not me, yet I’m actively involved in her care too. It would be really good if fathers of children with learning disabilities were recognised as carers, because lots of us are.”
Recognising Fathers makes a number of recommendations including that:
- Health services take a more active role in supporting the health needs of fathers - for example, annual health checks should be offered and GPs should be informed of the specific needs of fathers
- Children’s Trusts introduce peer group training so that fathers can be empowered to support each other
- Employers offer greater support and information to fathers regarding parental leave and flexible working arrangements
- Government policy such as the Carers Strategy and Health at Work agenda must explicitly address the role of fathers as carers
The report author, Christine Towers, said:
“Although some progress has been made, fathers of children with learning disabilities continue to go unrecognised for their caring roles. The vast majority of fathers want to be involved and make the effort to take their share of caring responsibilities.
“We found that fathers who got together with other dads in the same position were doing better in terms of their mental and physical health. We need to find ways of making these peer support networks much more widespread. It may be that fathers don’t have the same “school gate” opportunities to meet and form networks in the way mums often do.”
Philippa Russell, Chair of the Prime Minister’s Standing Commission on Carers, said:
“Families matter for all children but they are probably even more important for children with learning disabilities, who need active support, encouragement and the love of both parents if they are to achieve the ambitious outcomes set out in the Government's flagship programme, Aiming High for Disabled Children.
“Families for disabled children are too often narrowly interpreted as mothers alone but as this study shows, fathers also have a critical role to play in their children's health and well-being, and want to be active in their upbringing. Many sacrifice employment and other opportunities to share caring responsibilities yet they experience multiple problems such as feeling excluded by health and social care professionals from decision-making, and are not always recognised as family carers by their employers.”
“This research report is a vital piece of work that must inform national and local policies such as the Carers Strategy, and the development of services so that they are inclusive towards fathers of children with disabilities. It will help create a future in which fathers of children with learning disabilities are more confident, acknowledged and supported in their nurturing and caring roles.”
Notes to editors
For further information or to arrange an interview with the report’s author and / or a case study, contact the press office team on 020 7803 1128 or fgorman@mhf.org.uk
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families.
ENDS
Notes to editors
For more information please contact the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities press office on 020 7803 1130/28 or email sloveland@fpld.org.uk
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities promotes the rights, quality of life and opportunities of people with learning disabilities and their families.
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