Councils are failing to inform carers of their right to respite care, according to the results of a new survey.
The research, conducted by the Cerebra Legal Entitlements Research Project at Cardiff Law School, identified 'serious failings' in the accessibility and accuracy of short break statements.
It found more than 90% of those councils analysed were failing to advise carers of their right to an assessment, with 85% not providing a clear explanation as to how the amount of support provided is decided.
In half of all cases, carers said it was difficult to even locate the short break statement from their local authority.
Professor Luke Clement, who led the research at Cardiff Law School, said: 'The research shows that many authorities are falling short of what the law requires. The report highlights good practice and we hope that this will encourage councils to review their Short Breaks Statements and ensure they are of an acceptable standard.'
However, the report did point out the Isle of Wight as an example of best practice, with 'honourable mentions' given to the authorities of Camden, Hampshire, Liverpool and Cheshire West and Chester.