Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided information relating to the Community Day Activity Service for adults with a learning disability, known as the Lordswood Community Hub, and its sustainability in the current economic climate.

The report provided Cabinet with feedback from the public consultation relating to the proposed closure of the provision (following Cabinet’s approval on 8 March 2016 for consultation to be undertaken on the proposal).

The Cabinet reviewed the notes of consultation meetings held at the Lordswood Community Hub in April and May 2016.  The Cabinet considered a Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in Appendix C to the report, which identified actions that would mitigate the impact of a closure.

Reasons:

Whilst it was clearly recognised and strongly understood that the closure would cause much anxiety to Service Users and their parents/carers, it was apparent that this service is no longer financially viable.

The cost of the Lordswood Hub was not equal to the cost of alternative day care provisions and in financially challenging times, the authority was no longer able to fund this service.

New service users that started to receive care and support services from Adult Social Care were not typically receiving commissioned day care services through the council but were in receipt of a Direct Payment and were purchasing their own care and support, therefore, it was unlikely that there would be an increase in people using the provision if referrals to the unit were allowed.

Closing the provision from the 1 November 2016, provided sufficient time to support Service Users and their parents/carers through the transition to a new service.  It would also allow time to fully support the staff at the service in finding alternative jobs.