Issue - meetings

Adult Day Services Review Consultation

Meeting: 05/08/2013 - Call-In Sub-Committee (Item 51)

51 Call-In of Cabinet Decision (18 July 2013) - Transformation of Day Opportunities in Harrow pdf icon PDF 48 KB

The following documents are attached:-

 

a)     Notice invoking the Call-in

 

b)     Draft Minute Extract of the Cabinet meeting held on 18 July 2013

 

c)      Report submitted to Cabinet on 18 July 2013

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman informed the Sub-Committee that a call-in notice had been received, signed by over 150 members of the public, in respect of the Cabinet decision taken on 18 July 2013, on ‘Transformation of Day Opportunities’.  However, official notice had since been received from the lead signatory that the call-in notice should be withdrawn, and there was, therefore, no business to consider under this item.

 

RESOLVED:  That the withdrawal of the call-in notice on the Cabinet decision on ‘Transformation of Day Opportunities’ be noted.


Meeting: 18/07/2013 - Cabinet (Item 674)

674 Transformation of Day Opportunities in Harrow pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Report of the Corporate Director of Community, Health and Wellbeing.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)               a new service model, which incorporated a focus on internal services for those with the highest needs, provided in specialist environments and in which people with lower needs would be supported by alternative providers in the community, be agreed;

 

Phase One: Reducing & Rationalising Buildings

 

During Phase One, the Council would make operational changes to services to tackle the current over provision of spaces and offer best value for money.  This would deliver required Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) savings during 2013/14 whilst moving towards the proposed service model.

 

During this phase the Council would reduce the number of Council buildings used by in-house services from seven to four.  Capacity at Sancroft Hall would also be utilised as the Council moved to this approach.  Current vacancy levels in all five facilities would ensure that the Council could continue to offer high quality day opportunities as it transitioned to the new model.

 

The Council would support service users to maintain friendship and peer groups, which consultation had demonstrated to be important to them.  Services provided would be at the current level, and of a similar type.  The Council would commence planning for comprehensive reviews of individual needs to take place in Phase Two.

 

Phase Two:  Longer Term Changes to Delivery in NRCs

 

During Phase Two we would implement changes to deliver the new day opportunities model.  This will include the development of specialised services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the community.

 

Phase Two would involve changes over a period of time, including individual assessment and support planning to help people to identify the most appropriate service for their needs.

 

(2)               the transformation of individual services during Phase Two of implementation, as described below, be approved:

 

A: Byron Neighbourhood Resource Centre -  A specialised service would be provided for people with a learning disability including challenging behaviour and Autism;

 

B: Kenmore Neighbourhood Resource Centre - A specialised service would be provided for people with Complex Physical and/or Sensory Disabilities;

 

C: Vaughan Neighbourhood Resource Centre - A specialised service would be provided for people with a learning disability and complex needs;

 

D: Milmans Neighbourhood Resource Centre - A specialised service would be provided for older people including people with dementia;

 

(3)               the Council cease to use the following buildings for day opportunities for vulnerable people:

 

Bentley Neighbourhood Resource Centre – the Council would consider alternative use or potential disposal of this property.

 

Gordon Avenue – Officers would negotiate with the owner of the property in relation to changing/ending use.

 

Bedford House – The building would continue to be used as a permanent residential care home for ten people with a learning disability as approved by Cabinet in March 2013.  The Council would consider the future use of this building;

 

(4)               theCapital Programme be amended so that this resource could be made available for capital works which arise from this review, and the recent review of Residential Care services.  This would rename the capital project for "Bentley  ...  view the full decision text for item 674

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing introduced the report, which set out the conclusions of the consultation, including further work that had taken place, on a new Model of Day Opportunities in Harrow following Cabinet’s decision in January 2013.  The report sought approval for transforming Day Opportunities in Harrow.

 

The Portfolio Holder added that the consultation had engaged with approximately 650 people and it was important to make the changes for the following reasons:

 

·                     to ensure that the services provided were used effectively and levels of underuse addressed;

 

·                     that the Council was responding appropriately to the demographic changes;

 

·                     the need to respond to the personalisation agenda which gives people a choice of services to use;

 

·                     the need to support those most in need by ensuring they can access the services provided by the Council.

 

The Portfolio Holder appreciated that the proposals would entail change which would concern some users and she was sad about this but felt that service provision would improve as a result of the proposals.  She added that the situation would continue to be handled with the utmost sensitivity and trust, as there was a great deal of work to be done to bring the proposals to fruition.  The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was thorough and explained how the Council would mitigate adverse impacts.

 

The Portfolio Holder added that the process had been put in train by her predecessor and that she had seen some of the benefits that would ensue as a result of the proposals.  However, the process was not complete and discussions would continue and she empathised with the disabled movement, with whom the ongoing work would continue.

 

The Corporate Director of Community, Health and Wellbeing referred to the report, which set out many benefits of the proposals alongside some challenges.  He added that the proposals would also allow some disabled people to return to Harrow and use services near their families.

 

An officer detailed the feedback received from various organisations and users and explained that the recommendations set out in the report allowed for the same level of service to be provided to users.  The officer added that the Council was committed to working with users to identify their requirements, such as friendship groups which many users wanted retained.  He added that it was essential that there was choice but where there were preferences, the Council would aim to support them.  In addition, service users would help design facilities, such as the provision of gym(s) within the buildings.

 

The Non-voting non-Executive Cabinet Members asked why the original proposals to Cabinet were not being revisited by the new administration.

 

In response to some comments about the use of Bentley Day Centre, the Corporate Director of Community, Health and Wellbeing stated that whilst he could not comment on individual cases, the process culminating into the report before Cabinet had commenced in January 2013 when Cabinet authorised consultations, and he confirmed that substantial changes had been made to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 674