Agenda item
Direct Services Transformation
The report is attached.
Minutes:
Alison Elliott (Director of Adult Social Services) presented a report to the Committee outlining the learning disabilities direct services transformation project. This project encompassed a redesign of the provision by Adult Social Care of direct or in-house day services to adults with learning disabilities in Brent. It aimed to deliver improved service outcomes, increased independence and customer choice, and the creation of more personalised services, in contrast to the existing model of building-based service delivery. As a result of this project, savings of between £1.033m and £1.118m would be achieved by August 2012 against a budget of £3.7m. Savings to date had amounted to £644k and are on track.
With reference to the report, Allison Elliott advised that the project had been designed to be delivered in four stages and at present, the project had progressed to stage three. The first stage of the project had involved a comprehensive process of consultation with service users, carers and affected staff. Methods of consultation had been tailored to the needs of the particular group. The second phase of the project included assessment of service user needs, utilising a new assessment tool and via the transparent application of the eligibility criteria. Following this, individual support plans were developed. The process was co-designed with service users and was aligned to the principles underpinning Valuing People. The third stage of the project was focussed on service transformation in preparation for the move to the new John Billam Resource Centre. Several work-streams were currently on-going to ensure that the current service delivery and operational structure was better co-ordinated and streamlined to improve service users experience and outcomes. Specifically, the centre would represent a new operating model for supporting people with disabilities in the borough by focussing on sessional based activities in the centre as well as out in the community. The final phase of the project was the construction of the John Billam Resources Centre and the transferring of services from existing centres. A Decant and Transition Plan for the move had been developed and would be implemented by June 2012. The Resource Centre was now scheduled to be completed by the autumn of 2012.
In the subsequent discussion members raised several issues. The Chair queried whether the closure of local services would reduce accessibility for some service users and sought further details about the feedback received via the consultation. Allison Elliott advised that the New Millennium Day Centre, which catered for those with physical disabilities and the Day Centre in Kingsbury which provided services for elderly people, were not part of the planned closures. However, these services would be examined within the wider review to determine how to improve service delivery. The Albert Road Day Centre in Kilburn currently provided services for individuals with high level needs and options were currently being explored to improve transport to the new resources centre. Feedback from service users and carers had reflected the concern that they would lose the respite that these building-based services represented. However, those service users who had taken advantage of the new system of accessing alternative services, had indicated that they were happier with these arrangements. Advocacy work to assess the impact on service users formed a key part of the transformation project.
With reference to paragraph 2.9 of the report, Councillor Harrison noted that the assessments conducted as part of the project had determined that 50 people were no longer eligible for Adult Social Care services. Councillor Harrison queried why this was and Councillor Mitchel Murray sought further details of what support these individuals had been given. Alison Elliott advised that the existing criteria had been more robustly applied than it had previously. A period of adjustment had been allowed for these individuals and support had been provided to help them identify other more appropriate services or activities within the community that they could access.
The Chair sought further details regarding the type of services that would be offered at the John Billam Resource Centre. Alison Elliott advised that the Centre was intending to draw together several resources in one venue. The Centre would offer high quality sensory activities, supported by highly skilled staff and high quality facilities. In planning the services for the centre, officers had drawn on significant input from the National Autistic Society. Recruitment of staff to deliver these services would be open to existing day centre staff. Councillor Colwill sought specific details of who the Centre would cater for, the budgetary implications of the delay of its construction, and planned parking capacity. Alison Elliott advised that theCentre would cater for those service users with high needs which included those who were currently accessing the Albert Road Day Centre and the ASPPECT (Strathcona Autism Services Promoting Partnership, Empowerment, Creativity and Teamwork) services. The construction of the Centre had been delayed over the winter of 2011; however there were no known concerns regarding the associated budget. The Centre car park would have capacity for three cars. It was expected that there would be one or two busses transporting service users to the Centre during the day. As an integral part of the planned services of the Centre, service users and staff would be coming in and out of the Centre during the day.
In response to Councillors’ queries regarding the direct payment system, Alison Elliott advised that this system enabled service users to identify and purchase their own preferred services. Currently, 47 people had chosen to move on to this system and feedback from these individuals had been very positive. As take up of the scheme had been smaller than hoped, the department would focus on the encouraging use of direct payments across different service user groups. Support plans identifying suitable service options had been developed and a risk based review system was in place to ensure that the money was being used appropriately. A further safeguard was provided by the pre-paid card provided to direct payment users which enabled real time monitoring of expenditure. Councillor Harrison queried how the redesign of services had taken in to account the personalisation agenda and stronger element of personal choice that this represented. Alison Elliott advised that consultation with service users and carers regarding the types of services desired was on-going.
RESOLVED: -
That the report be noted.
Supporting documents: