Agenda item

The Head of Adult Safeguarding and Learning Disabilities updated the Panel on the progress that had been made in reconfiguring the borough’s activities offer for people with learning disabilities.  As part of the wider Learning Disabilities Change Programme, the reconfiguration aimed the provide enhanced community based opportunities for people with learning disabilities to choose how best to meet their own support needs whilst also ensuring the Council was complying with the requirements of the Care Act 2014. 

It had been proposed to reduce the number of day centres from three to two, by investing in the centres at Phoenix and Priors and closing the Elliman Centre, whilst enhancing community based facilities.  The Panel noted the outcomes of the reviews with service users completed to date and received re-assurance that no one would lose access to a building based service without a formal review.  A wide range of new community opportunities were being put in place including provision at the Britwell Hub, an allotment, sports taster sessions, healthy walks and courses on photography and social media.  It was recognised that there was more work to do to evolve the community opportunities but a good start had been made and service users had been positive about the improved range of activities.

The Panel raised the following points during the course of the discussion:

·  Feedback from service users did not come through strongly in the report and the Panel requested a further update in six months which included input from individuals and their families.

·  The enhancement of community based activities was welcomed and a number of other suggestions were made such as increasing activities at Council owned assets such as parks, open spaces and allotments.

·  Members also encouraged more training, employment and apprenticeships opportunities be developed for service users e.g. mechanical engineering.  An employment services team was in place to liase with local businesses and help raise awareness of the skills and attributes people with learning disabilities could offer employers.

·  Service users no longer requiring building based provision would continue to be tracked and supported and would be reviewed annually.

·  Adult social care was working closely with Slough Children’s Services Trust to identify young people’s needs early.  The Panel welcomed this approach and agreed that it was particularly important to properly manage the transition to adult services.

·  There was growing demand for services, with 2,153 adults with learning disabilities in 2007 predicted to increase to 2,644 in 2017.  The Officer explained that this was one of the principle reasons driving the reconfiguration to increase community based provision.  People’s needs would have to be met with less funding available, which required transformation of the service.

·  A Member raised the issue of respite services for carers and the Panel noted the provision had been widened including a change to two smaller respite units with appropriate support and greater use of direct payments.

The Panel discussed the proposal to close the Elliman Centre as part of the reconfiguration.  As a result of the work undertaken with people, families and service users, a recommendation would be made to the Director of Adult Social Care to close the Elliman Centre on 1^st January 2017 under the delegated authority given by the Cabinet on 18^th July 2016.  The decision would result in a revenue saving of £300,000, mainly from staffing and management costs.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Panel welcomed the work being done to transform learning disability services.  The challenges in changing services, particularly when the closure of a centre was involved, were recognised and the Panel supported the approach being taken to carefully review each individuals needs and to enhance the community based opportunities available.  The Panel also agreed to make two recommendations to Cabinet, which would also consider an update on this matter at its meeting on 19^th December 2016, to encourage the further employment and apprenticeship opportunities for people with learning disabilities; and the potential to make greater use Council assets and facilities for community based activities.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the report was noted.

Resolved –

(a)  That the update be noted.

(b)  That the Panel receive a further report at it’s meeting on 29th June 2017 on the progress made in enhancing the range of community based provision; feedback from service users and families on the impacts of the reconfiguration; and tracking information on the services being used by those effected by moving from building based day centre provision.

(c)  That the following recommendations be made to the Cabinet on 19th December 2016:

  i.  That the Commissioner for Health & Social Care work with the Head of Adult Safeguarding and Learning Disabilities to explore further employment and apprenticeship opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

  ii.  That the Head of Adult Safeguarding and Learning Disabilities review the opportunities for residents to use Council facilities and open spaces e.g. allotments.