Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Adult Care providing an update on the proposed closure of the respite service at Kentish Road.  Representations were received from service users and carers of the service as well as interested parties and a Member of the Council. 

Discussions took place regarding the suitability of alternative priority and the impact these changes were having on service users.  After consideration the Committee made the following recommendations:

RESOVLED:

(i)  That the Cabinet Member removed the proposed closure date of 31 October and re-considers the timeframe for the closure of Kentish Road Respite Centre at a meeting of Cabinet.

(ii)  That, to inform the proposed Cabinet decision, the report to Cabinet includes a re-assessment of the financial business case associated with the closure of Kentish Road Respite Service.

(iii)  That, if Cabinet agree to postpone the closure, a communications and transition plan was developed and published to support the process.

(iv)  That, if Cabinet agree to postpone the closure, the Cabinet Member ensures that every effort be made to adequately staff Kentish Road Respite Service whilst it remains open.

(v)  That the Cabinet Member clarifies and communicates to carers and service users the message about respite care at Kentish Road being available during weekends in October to those in the process of transitioning to alternative provision, or have not yet agreed an alternative provision.

(vi)  That the Committee are provided with a briefing paper outlining the current position as it relates to the individuals that are still using Kentish Road, with regards to:

·  Completed and outstanding assessments;

·  Completed and outstanding care and support plans;

·  The number that have not received an offer of alternative provision;

·  The number that have accepted offers of alternative provision;

·  The number that have received an offer but have not reached agreement with the Council with regards to alternative provision.

It was recommended that, where practical, external validation was provided of the statistics requested and that the briefing paper provides the Committee with an explanation of the stages that need to be followed from assessment to completing the transition.

(vii)  That information clearly identifying the alternative respite provision available, including capacity and facilities, and the various needs that they are able to support was provided to the Committee and was circulated to the carers of individuals that use Kentish Road Respite Centre.

(viii)  That the Cabinet Member circulates to the Committee the definition that Southampton City Council was working to, as it relates to the users of Kentish Road Respite Service, for the term ‘suitable alternative provision’.

(ix)  That the Committee are provided with:

·  A summary of the legal requirements placed on the Council with regards to engaging with service users and carers and ensuring that their views are taken into consideration.

·  An overview of the approach to engaging with service users and carers that the Council has employed as it relates to the proposed closure of Kentish Road Respite Service.

(x)  That a review of Weston Court was undertaken that explores the opportunities and potential of the site to deliver a respite service complete with facilities that enable service users to socialise.

(xi)  That the Committee was provided with the Administration’s current position with regards to the potential use of Weston Court as a facility to accommodate those recently discharged from hospital.

(xii)  That, prior to the closure of the service, officers seek to facilitate the development of ‘friendship groups’ for Kentish Road service users.

(xiii)  That the Cabinet Member continues to discuss the future use of the Kentish Road facility with the charities that had expressed an interest in the service, and reports progress back to the Committee.