Share the work with the family

Keeping the system working can become a second full working day: preparation, transport, appointments, calls, advocacy, supervision and recovery after difficult events. Advice that requires still more vigilance can increase the load unless someone also takes work off the family. Resilience cannot substitute for sleep, time, income or another capable adult.

Ask what practical help is available, how reliably it covers the hours needed, whether transport is included, what it costs and whether it can meet this child’s needs. A service name, referral or nominal place is not proof that the family can use it. Keep siblings’ needs and time together in view without making siblings substitute carers.

Plan for interruptions in family care

Make continuity a specific question before a crisis: who can help if a parent is ill, unavailable or exhausted; what information and familiar routines would that person need; and which service takes responsibility if the family has no workable backup? Later transitions also need preparation as parents age and the child enters adult services. A list of phone numbers alone does not answer who will actually provide care.

The Greek resource map identifies starting points, with limits on what has been verified. Our P8 proposal connects evidence about family workload with dependable relief and continuity. A Greek entitlement to a particular service is not established by the need alone.