Agenda item

Update on LD & Autism services including the proposed new services at Waltheof Gardens in the changed circumstances resulting from Covid-19.

Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director for Commissioning, introducing this item noting that the report provided an update on the work being done with users of learning disabilities and autism services and the impact of Covid-19 on those plans.

Charlotte Pomery and Georgie Jones-Conaghan, Lead Commissioner for Adult Learning Disability and Autism, responded to questions from the Panel:

• Asked by Cllr da Costa about the virtual digital offer and people who are digitally excluded, Georgie Jones-Conaghan said that services at Ermine Road were developing ten hours per week of a digital programme as part of their day services offer. Part of this had been tried out during the first wave of Covid and had received a positive response. Several day service providers had shared similar experiences as part of a provider forum that had taken place the previous week. It would be important to consider the needs of people with learning disabilities as part of the wider work on digital exclusion.
• Asked by Cllr da Costa about the Learning Disability Strategy, Georgie Jones-Conaghan said that this would start development next year and would be co-designed.
• Asked by Helena Kania about support for carers, Georgie Jones-Conaghan said that a Carers Strategy had been in development prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and there had then been a significant amount of telephone outreach with carers during the lockdown period to understand what support they needed and to offer support through Connected Communities, the Adult Social Care First Response Team or through the NHS. The Carers Strategy was expected to be launched next month and had been co-designed with carers. Helena Kania noted that the phone exercise demonstrated how out of date much of the Council’s data was, as many of the people contacted were no longer carers. Georgie Jones-Conaghan said that part of the recent learning as one of the themes of the Carers Strategy was on the identification of and communication with carers. Cllr James added that she had recently attended a couple of carers forum meetings and welcomed the good level of engagement from carers. Cllr Connor noted that some further information about the Carers Strategy had been made available through the Adult Social Care Redesign Group and asked that this be forwarded to Helena Kania. (ACTION)
• Asked by Cllr Culverwell about the use of the term “enhanced communication”, Charlotte Pomery said that communication issues included people who are non-verbal or who do not speak English as a first language so taking these factors into account was important when identifying support needs and the wider strategic approach of the Council.
• Asked by Cllr Opoku whether the Covid-19 pandemic had worsened contact with families or the existing health conditions of service users, Charlotte Pomery said that the lockdown period had actually been a time of enhanced communications with carers and acknowledged that certain health conditions present in people with learning disabilities and autism could make them more vulnerable to Covid complications. Georgie Jones-Conaghan added that a particular challenge in supporting people with complex needs during the pandemic was to maintain their routine and keep life as normal as possible.
• Cllr da Costa welcomed the case study in the report from the Preparing for Adulthood pilot and asked whether information on a broader range of service users could be provided in future. (ACTION) Georgie Jones-Conaghan said that she aimed to embed this approach of measuring before and after outcomes in order to better understand the benefits being delivered through services.
• In response to a question from Cllr Hakata, Charlotte Pomery confirmed that the Autism Strategy Group had been continuing to meet virtually.
• Cllr Hakata asked about the impact of the closure of The Grove School during the lockdown but it was noted that a response on this would need to be sought from Children’s Services officers.
• Asked by Cllr Hakata how Covid-19 had impacted on the design of buildings, Charlotte Pomery said that there had been some changes due to social distancing and that thinking was ongoing about the future for day opportunities and what opportunities would be possible in the wider community if the use of buildings was constrained. Asked by Cllr Connor for an update on Ermine Road, Georgie Jones-Conaghan said that all service users had continued to receive a service. Though they may not have been able to access the building, service users had access to outreach, park visits, digital packs, art supplies and phone calls. John Everson added that the one-to-one conversations with service users and with carers to establish what support individuals needed to manage during an unprecedented period had been crucial.
• Asked by Cllr Connor about services at Waltheof Gardens, Charlotte Pomery acknowledged that the timeframe had been delayed and, while the staff were in place and involved in the outreach work, the latest estimate for the opening of buildings was January 2021.
• Asked by Cllr Hakata about the expansion of co-production, Charlotte Pomery said that it was developing further, for example on Ermine Road starting with a person-centred approach and was now fundamental to the way that Adult Services operated. Despite some initial worries at the beginning of the pandemic, it had proved possible for this work to continue.