Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care detailing recommendations for the future of Day Services in Southampton, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 14/15 13739)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care and having received representations from interested organisations, Cabinet agreed the following modified recommendations:

(i)  To consider the responses received during a public consultation into the future of Southampton Day Services conducted between 24 July and 23 October 2014, outlined in Appendix 1.

(ii)  To authorise the restructured Southampton Day Services service to cease service delivery out of two centres, (St Denys and Freemantle) and all satellite bases when all of their current service users have been supported to move to suitable alternative care settings and to restructure the remaining service to provide an alternative model of delivery that is fit for the future needs of Southampton residents and users.

(iii)  To note that the needs of current service users and their carers will be thoroughly assessed prior to and following their moves to ensure that these needs continue to be met and to reduce any impact on their wellbeing.

(iv)  To note that if the proposal is agreed to undertake a 45 day consultation with affected staff with a view to minimising or avoiding compulsory redundancies.

(v)  To note that a further review may be required into alternative delivery models following a restructure.

(vi)  To delegate authority to the Director, People following consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care to do anything necessary to give effect to the proposals in this report.

(vii)  To approve the establishment of a dedicated team of experienced social work practitioners (from existing resources) to complete a thorough assessment of the needs of all individuals who currently receive a directly provided day and, or, respite service and that the anticipated outcome of these assessments will be:

(a)  The individual will be deemed not to have eligible social care needs and so will be signposted to access universal or other appropriate services or support;

(b)  The individual or their representative will choose to receive a Direct Payment and will use this to purchase the care and support needed to meet their eligible social care needs; or

(c)  The council will commission the care and support needed to meet an individual’s eligible social care needs on their behalf.

(d)  The council will then seek to carry out an annual assessment of individuals’ and carers’ needs.

(viii)  To note that it is anticipated that the assessments will be completed by 28 February 2015.

(ix)  To note that no service will be closed or withdrawn until all assessments have been completed and individuals with eligible social care needs have been supported to move to suitable alternatives.

(x)  To require a progress report at the Cabinet meeting in March 2015.

(xi)  To note that the commissioning of any new service will involve engagement with service users and carers. 

(xii)  To authorise support for those service users and their carers (who need it) wishing to take a Direct Payment, provided either by the council or a contracted third party.