Agenda item

Report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

Further to Minute 8/21 the Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Adult Services concerning the consultation regarding day opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

The report recognised that the Council directly provided or commissioned a range of day opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism which were a combination of centre-based activity and more flexible community activity related opportunities.  The provision of day opportunities served an important function in meeting the responsibilities to adults with care and support needs and their carers in two primary ways:

1.  The provision of meaningful activities including learning, stimulation, and recreation. These activities all help in promoting the independence of service users

2.  The provision of valuable daytime respite for informal carers

Expectations of people with care and support needs and their families were changing and a more balanced approach with centre based and non-centre based opportunities was required.  This move to a more blended approach was accelerated over the Covid-19 pandemic, in response to the closure of centres during the first lockdown in spring 2020, and subsequent partial reopening of centre-based day opportunities.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there had been a reduction in service users wanting to attend building-based services and more interest in a flexible outreach-based support.  The Council responded to this changing position by operating on an interim basis from fewer centres and providing more alternatives to centre-based activities where required.  Such an interim position was implemented for Wilfred Spencer Centre and the Community Zone which used to operate from two centres but since summer 2020 had been based at Wilfred Spencer Centre in Allesley.  This interim measure had proven popular with many people that used the service, and as a result a formal consultation exercise commenced in September 2021 to mainstream this way of working and permanently close the day centre provision that operated from the Community Zone at Frank Walsh House in Hillfields.

The consolidation on an interim basis helped the development of a more diverse day opportunity offer which included, a range of alternative and creative therapeutic, educational outreach services.  Opportunities afforded by technology were established and delivered better outcomes for many service users.  Virtual day services had become more popular and would remain a future offer for service users, their families, and carers.

The changes in demand for centre-based services had been significant.  Prior to Covid, Wilfred Spencer offered 170 places per week which supported 34 service users over 5 days, and the Zone offered 125 places supporting 25 service users over 5 days.  Currently the combination of both services in the limited space at Wilfred Spencer was offering 120 places per week which was meeting current demand during the recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.  After the refurbishment the new model aimed to increase capacity to 260 places per week over 5 days and would be able to offer a wider variety of activities.  Extra capacity would be realised as a result of the refurbishment and also as the use of the centre combined with activities in the community.  Demand was predicted to increase as we recover from Covid and a robust and varied day service offer would support people who wanted to remain in their own home.  It would also provide valuable respite for carers, thereby supporting carer resilience and helping to avoid admissions to care homes and supported living as a result of carer breakdown.

The report detailed the consultation process, issues raised and responses provided.  The report sought permission to implement the proposal to consolidate building based Learning Disabilities Day Opportunities delivered from two establishments: Wilfred Spencer Centre in Whitaker Road, Allesley and Frank Walsh House annex Jenner Street, Hillfields into a single hub at Wilfred Spencer Centre.

As well as consulting on the consolidation of two Learning Disability Day Centres the September Cabinet Member report also included the proposal for Older Peoples Dementia Day Services at Maymorn.  The outcome of this would be reported separately as the consultation exercise was not yet complete.

RESOLVED that approval be given for the consolidation of the Learning Disability Day Centre at Community Zone and Wilfred Spencer Centre to a single hub at Wilfred Spencer Centre in Allesley.