The council is set to discuss the future of some care services at the next Scrutiny Panel on Monday (13 September) with Cabinet making the final decision on 20 September.
A public consultation was held with service users and the recommendations include closing the following services currently operated by the council:
- Lavender Court
- Respond (short-term breaks service)
- Priors Day Service
- Phoenix Day Service
- The Pines Day Service.
Instead of the day centres, residential service, and respite service, the council will be looking at other ways to meet resident’s needs. These may include accessing activities or services run by other providers including local community groups and charities, using personal assistants, using direct payments, or accessing other support networks. This decision affects 107 residents registered to use the services.
This recommendation follows a public consultation which ran from Monday 5 July through to Friday 6 August and asked people with an interest to share their views. Residents were supported in taking part in this consultation with three on-line surveys, and a consultation webpage. Easy read surveys were circulated alongside information about the consultation, to people who use the services. Telephone calls were also made at different stages during the consultation period to all customers and focus groups were established which were supported by advocacy.
Currently, the council has significant financial challenges. This process has been undertaken to ensure available resources are used in the most efficient and effective way to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people within our community.
Alan Sinclair, executive director of people (adults), said: “These recommended changes will allow us to offer a more personalised service based on the individual resident’s needs. We understand that this proposal will bring change for people who use these services and their families. Each person who uses these services will benefit from a re-assessment of their needs and will be supported with their own new individual plan. As well as saving over a million pounds of taxpayer’s money, this will allow more flexible and tailored support for people.”