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.

Reconsidered decision following Call-in of Decision Number CAB 14/15 13741 on the 15^th January 2015:-

Having received representations from members of the public and MENCAP Cabinet confirmed the decision to agree the modified recommendations:

(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 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 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)  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.

(vi)  To delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care following consultation with the Leader and the Director, People 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. This report will include a list of costed options for respite care.

(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.