Agenda item

Susanna Yeoman, Locality Manager/Head of Mental Health Services, Slough Borough Council and Berkshire Health Care NHS Foundation Trust, outlined a report and presentation to provide the Panel with the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed approach to the commissioning of a re-designed Day Activities and Opportunities Service for people with mental health needs. 

The Panel was advised that Day Services for people with mental health problems were currently provided by Ability Housing Association at the Sunrise Club and the service was commissioned in April 2010 for an initial 20 months period following the withdrawal of the previous service provider.  The arrangement was recently extended for a further year to enable the completion of a consultation exercise with service users to plan for the future provision of services.  It was noted that the service would be retendered in Autumn 2011 and a new service would be in place for March 2012.  The Officer advised that Cabinet had approved the retendering of the service at its meeting on 11^th April, 2011. 

The Panel noted the current service provision which was based at Stoke Park Trust, Northern Road and open four days each week.  The Club provided an opportunity for social interaction and a timetable of activities for members of the Club.  ‘Ability’ also operated a community day once a week which offered outings or support for individual members of the club to access facilities in Slough community.  The Officer discussed the purpose of the Club and the uptake of current services and demand.  It was highlighted that the service was commissioned to provided services for up to 60 people a day but delivery expectations had not been met and the current uptake was around 12-18 attendees each day with fewer people attending the weekly community days.  It was highlighted that a significant number of club members did not meet the fair access to care services eligibility criteria for Adult Social Care Services.  Also, approximately 200 service users of the Community Mental Health Team could benefit from accessing day activities and community group activities had been provided which operated separately from the Sunrise Club and were accessed by 114 service users. 

The Officer discussed the need for change as the current building was poor and not conducive to provide the needs of the client group.  The Panel noted that extensive consultations had been carried out with service users, carers and other stakeholders to understand the needs of the service user groups.  The outcome of the consultation had confirmed that a transformation of the current service delivery was needed although it was acknowledged that there were a small number of service users who wished to continue with the current service provision. 

The Panel noted the detail of the proposed service model which would be in line with the principles of the Day Service Modernisation and Personalisation.  The new model would focus on recovering wellbeing and would be expected to support up to 200 service users.  Clear pathways would be established for accessing and exiting the service and outcomes would be monitored using the Department of Health Adult Social Care Outcomes Frameworks.

A number of questions/comments were raised in the ensuing debate.  In response to a question regarding current users, the Panel was advised that many of the individuals had attended the service for several years so there was a dominant group and culture in place.  A Member questioned the suitability of the current venue and the AD advised that it was not appropriate.  A Member questioned the period during which the membership had declined  and was advised that it was thought membership was the same as when MIND were running the service and there was no significant change that could be contributed to the change of provider.  In response to a further question it was confirmed that 40% of the members of the Sunrise Club were not eligible for services and they had continued to attend the group although their cases had been closed.  A Member questioned whether the 6-bed facility in Elliman Avenue where the beds had never been slept in could be better used.  The Officer advised that the Elliman Avenue building was a crisis unit but was not resourced to be operational. 

Resolved - That the report be noted and that an update report be submitted to the Panel once the re-tendering process has been completed.