Agenda item
Provision of services for children with disabilities - verbal report
The chair of the committee has asked that a regular item on the provision of services for children with disabilities be included on each agenda. This follows the decision to close the short break service at Crawford Avenue and restructure services for children with disabilities at Clement Close.
Minutes:
Rik Boxer (Assistant Director, Achievement and Inclusion) provided a verbal report to the committee on the provision of services for children with disabilities and the implementation of the Executive decision, taken on 23 May 2011, to restructure the short term break offer provided by the Council. This restructure encompassed the closure of the short break unit at Crawford Avenue and the enhancement of the service provision at the remaining centre on Clement Close. The restructure formed part of the council's savings proposals and was in line with the longer term strategy to increase community based provision and the number of more flexible options available for families. The restructure also reflected the agreement already in place to concentrate the council's short break service for children with disabilities in a single site, namely that of the Village School. This centre was due to be open in December 2012 and was currently being redeveloped, with a rebuild scheduled to commence in September 2011.
Rik Boxer confirmed to the committee that the eligibility criteria for accessing such services had not changed and that assessed needs would continue to be met. The restructure would result in a slightly reduced capacity in day provision; however, it was anticipated that there would be sufficient overnight capacity to meet current and long term demand. Reduced capacity might affect the local authority’s ability to offer emergency provision, however in such circumstances, overnight provision could be commissioned by the local authority from providers outside of the borough. With regard to direct payments and community based provision, the local authority recognised that there would be a continued need to stimulate the market to ensure that there were sufficient services to meet a wide range of needs. To support parents choosing to take up direct payments, the local authority would direct them to the various voluntary organisations which provided information and guidance on direct payments and appropriate service providers. In addition, from August 2011 an independent employment adviser would be made available by the local authority to assist parents and provide guidance regarding direct payments.
Rik Boxer further advised that the implementation of the restructure was currently underway. The consultation with staff at both centres had now been completed and all parents and carers affected had been consulted prior to the decision. It had been determined that for many service users the transfer to the Clement Close centre would be straightforward; where this was not so, the local authority was reviewing care plans accordingly. To ensure that the Clement Close centre was appropriately equipped to meet a range of needs, it would be closed for three weeks from 12 September 2011, during which time various adaptations would be made and a staff training programme would commence. It was intended that the new unit at Clement Close would open on 3 October 2011.
During member discussion, Councillor Harrison commented that a three week period did not seem sufficient to retrain staff appropriately, given the range of needs that they would be required to meet when the new unit opened. Rik Boxer advised that the staff programme would continue beyond the three week period but the initial training would cover essential skills and knowledge such as lifting and handling.
With reference to direct payments and the commissioning of services by individuals, Councillor Al-Ebadi queried whether the council had monitoring procedures in place to ensure that these services were of sufficient quality. Rik Boxer confirmed that it was the responsibility of the Council to monitor the provision of such services and added that monitoring arrangements were currently in place.
With the permission of the Chair, clarity was sought by Mrs J Cooper (Observer) regarding the reason for the reduction in day service capacity, and particularly whether it was due to staffing constraints. Rik Boxer advised that the reduction in capacity was due to the physical capacity of the centre and that staffing levels would in fact be greater than those at present. In response to a further query, Rik Boxer stated that he was not aware of any legal restrictions acting to prevent individuals from cooperating to commission services as a group; however this might prove difficult to do in practice. He added that as part of the consultation process, the local authority had sought the views of parents and carers as to whether they would be interested in taking up direct payments. In view of the reduced capacity, the Chair requested that quantitative data be provided to illustrate that the council was able provide adequate provision. Rik Boxer agreed that this information could be provided to a future meeting of the committee and noted that it would also need to include information regarding the uptake of direct payments to fully illustrate the issue. The Committee agreed that a standing item should be added to future agendas to monitor this matter.
The Chair queried what would happen to the equipment at the Crawford Avenue centre and was informed that some equipment would be stored and made use of at the Village School Centre.
With the permission of the Chair, Councillor Hunter queried whether a list of approved and vetted service providers would be supplied to parents and carers taking up direct payments. Rik Boxer emphasised that help would be provided to parents and carers; however, the council did not maintain an updated list of approved providers. Rather an independent adviser would be made available to parents and they would also be signposted to voluntary organisations that could supply guidance on suitable service providers.
The Chair thanked Rik Boxer for his report.
RESOLVED:-
that the verbal report be noted.