Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care detailing recommendations for the future of the respite service for adults with learning disabilities, attached.

DECISION MADE: (Ref: CAB 14/15 13741)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To consider the responses received during a public consultation into the future of respite services for adults with learning disabilities conducted between 24 July and 23 October 2014, outlined in Appendix 1.

(ii)  To note the intention to move the provision of respite care towards individual packages of care that make increased use of direct payments through a range of alternative options including shared lives and short breaks.

(iii)  To note that the needs of current service users will be thoroughly reviewed 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 authorise a phased closure of Kentish Road beginning with supporting clients with lower needs, followed by those with higher needs to access alternative respite options with a clear focus on more personalised support being accessed and resulting in the eventual total closure of the Kentish Road service by April 2015.

(v)  If the proposals are agreed to undertake a 45 day consultation with affected staff with a view to minimising or avoiding compulsory redundancies.

(vi)  To delegate authority to the Director, People following consultation with 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 review of the needs of all individuals who currently receive a directly provided day and, or, respite service and that the anticipated outcome of these reviews 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.

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

(ix)  To note that no service will be closed or withdrawn until all reviews 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.