Agenda item

(a)  That the Councils activities offer for people with learning disabilities be reconfigured.  People with less complex needs will be supported to access community based activities.  People will be able to exercise their right to choose and control which community based activities meet their individual needs through the use of direct payments. People with more complex care needs who require specialist support will continue to be supported by the Councils day centres.

(b)  That the reconfiguration of the existing council’s day centres include the retention of the Priors and Phoenix services and the closure of the Elliman centre. 

(c)  That the decision of when to reconfigure the services be delegated to the Director of Adult Social Care following consultation with the Commissioner for Health and Social Care.

(d)  That a further report be provided to the Health Scrutiny Panel and then Cabinet once progress had been made in reconfiguring the services and prior to a final decision on the timing of the reconfiguration.

A report was considered on the next stage of the Learning Disabilities Change Programme that sought to support people with learning disabilities by giving people more control over their lives and to live independently as part of the community.  The proposal was to support more people with less complex needs in community based activities; to retain and invest in the day centres at Priors and Phoenix and to close the Elliman centre.

The plans were in line with the Council’s strategy to provide the services that were right for each individual and respond to the changing needs of such provision.  The refurbishment of Priors and Phoenix was a capital investment of £1,100,000 and the overall reconfiguration was projected to result in a revenue saving of £350,000.  It was confirmed that there would still be building based day services for those that needed them, and other users would be supported with a bespoke programme of community based activities following consultation with each individual and their families.

Commissioners sought assurance that changes to the service would work for those using them and that there was sufficient capacity in the two retained centres.  It was responded that detailed work had been undertaken based on the known needs of service users and it was confirmed there would be sufficient capacity at Priors and Phoenix for those that required such services.  Many people currently using Elliman already accessed community based services and the location of the centre was not ideal for supporting vulnerable adults.  Officers were working with the Council’s leisure team, community centres and the SPACE consortium to develop the community activities.

The Cabinet discussed a range of issues including the engagement with people and their families; the support to help service users adjust; and the timescales for implementing the change.  It was recognised that there was strong attachment to the centres and managing the transition to different types or locations of services was important.  Each individuals needs would be assessed, following consultation with their families, with a view to closing the Elliman centre in the new year once this process was complete.  The Cabinet was assured that the process would not be rushed and proper time would be taken to provide the right service offer for each person.

Councillors Anderson and Swindlehurst asked a number of questions under Rule 30, including the rationale for choosing Elliman as the site for closure; and further detail on the refurbishment of Priors and Phoenix.  Each site had been carefully assessed and the location in a residential area and ASB issues were identified as reasons for recommending the closure of Elliman.  The role of scrutiny was raised and it was confirmed that the closure was discussed at the last meeting of the Health Scrutiny Panel as part of wider consideration of the Learning Disabilities Plan.  The Commissioner for Health & Social Care suggested, and it was agreed, that a further report be provided to the Health Scrutiny Panel and then to Cabinet prior to any final decision to close the centre.  The Cabinet then agreed the recommendations set out in the report.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Councils activities offer for people with learning disabilities be reconfigured.  People with less complex needs would be supported to access community based activities.  People would be able to exercise their right to choose and control which community based activities met their individual needs through the use of direct payments. People with more complex care needs who require specialist support would continue to be supported by the Councils day centres.

(b)  That the reconfiguration of the existing council’s day centres include the retention of the Priors and Phoenix services and the closure of the Elliman centre. 

(c)  That the decision of when to reconfigure the services be delegated to the Director of Adult Social Care following consultation with the Commissioner for Health and Social Care.

(d)  That a further report be provided to the Health Scrutiny Panel and then Cabinet once progress had been made in reconfiguring the services and prior to a final decision on the timing of the reconfiguration.