My heart just sank today when I received a letter from social services saying our current respite care "family"/lady is quitting.  No reason why and I don't really feel that's any of our business unless we're part of the reason in which case I'd like to know so we can consider how we'd like our relationship to be with any future prospect respite family.  Not that they hang on trees.  I just know that this will break my boy's heart because he's really taken to her, her bf whom they often sleep over at and her teenage kids.  He really likes teenagers. 

Respite care is of course a costly luxury we can't afford on our own so we feel most grateful and humble if the council can find a new respite care family and are willing to pay for it.  But it is a need our son has and we all benefit from it.  So as soon as I received the letter today (a damn Saturday!   Thanks for ruining my weekend! ) I immediately began to draft a mail and I'm sending it off Monday morning so the social worker will see it in her inbox as soon as she arrives at work and I'm going to call her as soon as phone opening hours start.  I think it's 8am-10am or some rediculous short time and there's usually one stupid weekday where you can't call the council/county.

Sorry, just needed to get this off my chest before it winds me completely up!

I'm so sorry to hear this.   I know how hard it is to get respite care and even more difficult to find someone that actually "connects" with an autistic person.  Hopefully they will be able to find someone just as special for a replacement for you. 

(((hugs)))

thats awful!   i hope they can work things out for your son.