Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care detailing progress since the Cabinet decisions to close Woodside Lodge Residential Care Home and to restructure Day and Respite Services.  The report will also seek approval for the next steps.

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

(i)  To note that in accordance with its decision of 16 December 2014, Woodside Lodge residential care home closed on 31 July 2015, as all of its previous residents had been supported to move to suitable alternative placements.

(ii)  To confirm the Cabinet decision made on 15 January 2015 to cease the provision of council-provided day services at St Denys and Freemantle Community Centres, along with all four satellite day services (Nutfield, Tools for Self Reliance, Stella Maris and Wooden Reflections), and agrees that these council-run services will close by 31 December 2015.

(iii)  To note that the Council will continue to provide day services from Woolston Community Centre and Sembal House to help meet the assessed needs of 122 individuals.

(iv)  That, taking into account the outcome of the assessments of individual needs and the availability of suitable alternatives, Cabinet agrees to postpone the implementation of its decision made on 15 January 2015 to close the replacement care (respite) service provided by the council at Kentish Road pending the outcome of a further review and the continued evaluation and development of suitable alternatives.

(v)  To request a report on the outcome of a further review, led by the Integrated Commissioning Unit, of how replacement care (respite) for individuals with a learning disability can best be provided, to include an update on the evaluation and development of suitable alternatives to Kentish Road, by 31 March 2016.

(vi)  To confirm the commitment made by Cabinet not to close the replacement care (respite) service at Kentish Road until individuals have been supported to move to suitable alternatives and agrees that Kentish Road will not close until 30 September 2016 at the earliest.

1.  Cabinet gave an assurance that Woodside Lodge residential care home would not close until all residents had been assessed and supported to move to suitable alternative placements. This commitment has been fulfilled.

2.  The recommendation to proceed with the closure of directly-provided day services at St Denys and Freemantle Community Centres and the four satellite day services (Nutfield, Tools for Self Reliance, Stella Maris and Wooden Reflections) is based on the outcome of the assessments of the needs of all individuals who are currently using day services provided by the council. Suitable alternatives have been identified to meet the eligible social care needs of a sufficient number of individuals to enable these six services to safely close by 31 December 2015. Closing in December will allow enough time for individuals to be supported to transition to these alternatives and for the appropriate notice to be given of the council’s intention to vacate premises.

3.  Taking into account the outcome of the assessments, it has been determined that the eligible social care needs of 122 individuals would be best met wholly or in part by the council’s restructured day services, operating from bases at Woolston Community Centre and Sembal House. These individuals have a range of needs and include people living with a mental health difficulty, a learning disability or a physical disability. There is sufficient capacity to support this number of individuals at these two bases, as the majority are now being supported by a blend of services provided by the council and other providers that is more precisely tailored to their needs. There will be an average attendance of 35 people per base per day.

4.  The process to date has seen the development of new social enterprises at St Denys and Nutfield. These organisations plan to offer support, which would be funded by Personal Budgets, to former users of council-run services. Individuals are being assisted to make arrangements to access these services.

5.  Assessments of the individuals who use the replacement care (respite) service at Kentish Road have concluded that there is not currently sufficient alternative provision to meet their eligible social care needs and to sustain their care and support arrangements in the community, taking into account the needs of their carers. Delaying implementation of the decision to close Kentish Road would enable the 47 individuals deemed to require its support to continue to receive this and is considered to be the best way of managing risks pending a wider joint review of respite provision and the continued development of suitable alternatives. It is proposed that Cabinet considers the outcome of this review by 31 March 2016 and Kentish Road remains open at least until 30 September 2016, to allow for a phased implementation.

1.  Not proceeding with the decision to close Woodside Lodge has been rejected on the basis that suitable alternative residential care for individuals with dementia is being sourced from alternative providers at a lower cost to the council and the site has been earmarked for an extra care housing scheme, subject to consultation and approval.

2.  Not proceeding with the decision to close the day services provided by the council at St Denys and Freemantle Community Centres and the four satellite services has been rejected as, following the assessments, all individuals have or can be supported to move to suitable alternatives, including the restructured services that the council will continue to provide at Woolston Community Centre and Sembal House, the new social enterprises and independent providers. Individuals now have greater flexibility to access a support package that is tailored to meet their individual needs.

3.  Proceeding with the decision to close the replacement care (respite) service at Kentish Road immediately, would put up to 47 individuals at risk of not having their eligible social care needs met and would affect the sustainability of the caring arrangements which support these individuals to live safely in the community. This has been rejected, as Cabinet would be unable to fulfil its commitment not to close Kentish Road until all individuals using the service had been supported to move to suitable alternatives, including the support that Kentish Road now gives at short notice in emergency or crisis situations.