Agenda item

[Report of the Director of Adults and Health.  To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health]

Proposal for a new model of delivering day opportunities for adults with learning disabilities following a public consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health introduced the report which sought approval for a new model of learning disability day opportunities following a period of consultation.

The consultation process received feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, and the proposals were and would continue to be shaped by users, carers and other stakeholders as they were implemented.

Councillor Bull placed on record his thanks to Councillor James for her engagement with service users to shape a transformation to the previous offer.

Councillor James and Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director for Commissioning, responded to questions from Councillor Emery:

-           During the consultation, one of the important issues that was raised was around independent pathways. Due to this, a process of adaptation and redesign had already begun, taking into account the points raised in the consultation.  The pathway would be renamed as a ‘development’ pathway, and would be co-produced.  There would be access to a building space for all on the pathway, along with access to a dedicated team who would be responsible for looking after and monitoring the support for the cohort.  It was important to ensure that a meaningful experience was provided.

-           Written material on Care Act assessments and reviews was already provided to service users.  Advocacy was available for those who needed it.

RESOLVED

1.           To consider and take into account the feedback from the consultation undertaken as set out at Paragraphs 6.10 and Appendix 2 of the report;

2.           To consider and take into account the equalities impact assessment of the proposals on protected groups and action proposed to mitigate the impact as set out in Paragraphs 8.3 and Appendix 3 of the report; and 

3.           To approve the following new model for Learning Disability Day Opportunities to take effect from 1^st April 2021:

3.1         In respect of Ermine Road

a)  Transforming Ermine Road to be a centre of excellence supporting people with severe to profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), complex health needs, physical and/or sensory impairments.

b)  Decommissioning the autism support service at Ermine Road.

c)  Supporting those who attend Ermine Road who have low or moderate support needs to plan alternative, more community focused support during the day, based on their needs, interests, friendships and life goals.

d)  Creating greater capacity at Ermine Road.

3.2       In respect of Waltheof Gardens

e)  Creating a dedicated service for people with complex learning disabilities and autism.

f)   Creating an Autism Hub.

3.3         In respect of out of borough day opportunity users

g)  Bringing some of the out of borough day opportunity users back to borough.

Reasons for decision

Users and carers have been consulted on Haringey’s new learning disability and autism day opportunities offer. 360 users and families were directly notified about the consultation. 11% of those notified of the consultation returned a completed survey. 5.5% of those notified about the consultation attended a consultation meeting. 20% of those notified of the consultation were contacted by officers for a telephone discussion about the proposals.

The survey feedback from the consultation shows that 50% of responses across all the proposals think they are better than the current offer. 18% of all responses believe the proposals to be worse than the existing offer. Proposals A, B and D had over 50% stating that these proposals are better. 44% of respondents thought proposals C and E were better than current provision; with 25% of responses stating proposal C was worse, and 14% stating proposal E was worse than the current provision.  A detailed breakdown of responses can be found in appendix 2.

Implementing the proposed service changes will enable Haringey Council to increase the in-borough capacity of day opportunities for people with a learning disability and or autism, particularly for those with very high needs who often have to travel out of borough to receive a similar service. They will provide more buildings for day opportunities and increase options for both specialist and mainstream/ universal support for people with a learning disability. Specifically, the proposals allow for autistic people with no learning disability to receive support in Haringey through the development of an Autism Hub, in line with the emerging all-age Autism Strategy.

All of the proposals will provide person-centred support. Stakeholders agreed that this will better meet individual needs and provides value for public money.

People who currently receive and require support will not lose their day support offer – and any changes to an individual’s support plan will follow a Care Act compliant strengths-based review by a social worker involving the individual and, wherever possible, their circle of support.

Compared with the current learning disabilities day opportunities the proposals will mean that the Council will be better able to:

·                         Achieve community inclusion, reduce social isolation and loneliness.

·                         Maintain or develop existing social networks, community links and activities.

·                         Provide flexible support that is well connected to community-based resources.

·                         Provide breaks for carers.

·                         Maintain and improve resident’s health and wellbeing.

·                         Build capability for employment and stable accommodation.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option for day opportunities is not to respond to the consultation but to keep things as they are. The ‘do nothing’ option is that services stay the same. This is not an option as it does not provide for future service users nor for some current day service users who struggle to find support in the borough. The results of the consultation validate this assumption hence creating consensus for change. The Council will continue to coproduce Haringey’s day opportunities offer with stakeholders, so they are fit for purpose and meet individual’s needs.