Agenda item

1  Thatthe followingProviderServices currentlyoperatedby theCouncil be closed:

·  Lavender Court

·  Respond (short-term breaks service)

·  Priors Day Service

·  Phoenix Day Service

·  The Pines Day Service

2  That:

(a)  theneedsandaspirationsof all peoplewho use the  servicescurrently be reviewed. Toidentify alternativeoptions,buildingonpeople’s strengths,acrosstheprovider market andthroughdirectpayments.

(b)  flexibleand morepersonalised support be delivered,relying lessonproviding activitiesor services that arebased atthedaycentres.

(c)  individualchoiceandindependencethroughaccessingservicesthatwere beingdeliveredby charities,communitygroups andother organisations in thevoluntary and independentsector.

3  That the implementation of these recommendations be delegated to the Executive Director of People (Adults), in consultation with the lead member for social care and public health.

4  That the comments of the People Scrutiny Panel from its meeting on 13^th September 2021 be noted, including the petition requesting the Council not to close the day centres.

5  That the Cabinet and People Scrutiny Panel receive an update when the assessment process of service users had been completed to ensure that appropriate alternatives were in place to meet their needs.  The update should also include details of transport costs to alternative provision and the redeployment opportunities for staff.

6  That there be budgetary flexibility available through the delegation in resolution 3, to continue to meet service users needs through the transitional period.

The Lead Member for Social Care and Public Health and the Associate Director of Adult Social Care Operations summarised a report on the review of adult social care provider services.  The recommendations included the closure of five provider services for older people and people with learning disabilities currently operated by the Council at Lavender Court, Respond, Priors Day Service, Phoenix Day Service and The Pines Day Service.  The report set out the feedback from a recent public consultation and the rationale for the recommended option.

The Lead Member stated that the review aimed to improve services and meet the Council’s financial obligations.  It was recognised that the Council had responsibilities, and a commitment, to meet the needs of vulnerable people and their families but that this need not be achieved by directly delivering services.  The centres had already been significantly disrupted by Covid-19 and people had changed the way they accessed services.  The Cabinet noted the options, financial and legal implications.  It was noted that there were 107 people currently registered to use the services and the closures would directly impact 61 staff.  The annual saving was projected to be £1.1m.  If the Cabinet agreed to close the centres the needs of service users would be reassessed with more flexible and personalised support provided.  The feedback from the consultation and comments of the People Scrutiny Panel were considered, including a petition requesting the Council not to close the centres which had received more than 800 signatures.

Lead Members had a detailed discussion on the proposal and asked a number of questions of the Associate Director to ensure the costs and savings estimates were robust; to seek more information about alternative provision to be assured that service users needs could be adequately met through services not directly operated by Slough Borough Council; the impacts on carers and families of services users; the likely travel distances and costs to alternative provision; the timescale for carrying out the assessments of service users; and the likely number of redundancies if closures were agreed.  Officers responded to each of the points raised and commented that the Council had to balance its statutory duties with its financial strategy in the future.  The services recommended for closure were some of few remaining provider services and the strategy for adult social care was to continue to move away from being the direct service provider to focus on strategic commissioning and meeting the needs of people in other ways which could include accessing activities or services from other providers such as community groups and charities, using personal assistants, direct payments or accessing other support networks.  In relation to the staff, redeployment opportunities would be sought although it was recognised that there would be a significant number of redundancies.

Speaking under Rule 30 Councillor Strutton commented on a number of aspects of the proposal and expressed his concerns about the impact on service users and the fact that some of the facilities had never reopened following refurbishment.  He indicated that he had submitted detailed questions to which a response was awaited and would be provided by Officers outside of the meeting.  Officers responded to the points raised by Councillor Strutton.  Any specific queries about reassessment of individual cases should be raised through the proper channels. 

At the conclusion of the discussion the Cabinet approved the recommendations as set out in the report.  To be provided with assurance that the needs of service users was been adequately met in the future it was agreed that the Cabinet and the People Scrutiny Panel was also receive an update in December or January which should include details of any additional transport costs to alternative provision and the staffing implications.  Finally, it was agreed that under the delegated provided to implement the decision that there be budget flexibility, if required, to ensure individual needs could be appropriately met through the transitional period.

Resolved –

(a)  That the following Provider Services currently operated by the Council be closed:

·  Lavender Court

·  Respond (short-term breaks service)

·  Priors Day Service

·  Phoenix Day Service

·  The Pines Day Service

(b)  That:

i.  the needs and aspirations of all people who use the  services currently be reviewed. To identify alternative options, building on people’s strengths, across the provider market and through direct payments.

ii.  flexible and more personalised support be delivered, relying less on providing activities or services that are based at the day centres.

iii.  individual choice and independence through accessing services that were being delivered by charities, community groups and other organisations in the voluntary and independent sector.

(c)  That the implementation of these recommendations be delegated to the Executive Director of People (Adults), in consultation with the lead member for social care and public health.

(d)  That the comments of the People Scrutiny Panel from its meeting on 13th September 2021 be noted, including the petition requesting the Council not to close the day centres.

(e)  That the Cabinet and People Scrutiny Panel receive an update when the assessment process of service users had been completed to ensure that appropriate alternatives were in place to meet their needs.  The update should also include details of transport costs to alternative provision and the redeployment opportunities for staff.

(f)  That there be budgetary flexibility available through the delegation in resolution (c), to continue to meet service users needs through the transitional period.

(Councillor Carter left the meeting)