Agenda item

This report outlines outcomes to the Overnight Short Breaks Consultation from 16 March 2013 to 12 June 2013. 

Discussion

Officers introduced the report, which detailed the outcome of the consultation process on the review of overnight short breaks, which was instigated in response to a decision by the provider organisation, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, to cease provision of respite care at Preston Skreens.  Officers confirmed that they were recommending that option 1A (extend the range of day, evening and overnight short breaks for disabled children and young people and their parents carers living in Medway and Swale) with the extension of Aut Even seven days a week as detailed in option 1B, be implemented.

Two parents of children that use the Preston Skreens facility, Mr Hilderbrando and Mr Mencattelli, then addressed the committee.  Both explained their personal circumstances and the current level of support they had in place for their families at Preston Skreens and raised their concerns, which included: -

·        Retaining the provision at Preston Skreens had not been one of the options that was consulted on;

·        That capacity was not available in alternative provision currently to accommodate all families using Preston Skreens and they had been advised of long waiting lists to access services, such as Aut Even;

·        Confusion that the alternative provisions being suggested had similar structural issues to the ones which were demonstrated as the reason for Preston Skreen’s closure, such as not having en suite bathrooms available;

·        The negative impact and stress that losing the resource at Preston Skreens would have on their families.

The Committee then made comments, raised a number of questions and discussed a range of issues including:

Retaining Preston Skreens indefinitely – Members asked what lengths had been taken to find out if an alternative provider would carry on running Preston Skreens.  In response officers explained that no provider had come forward to take on the running of Preston Skreens but other providers had engaged with the Council and the Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to provide alternative services for affected families.  It was explained that the Preston Skreens building required a great deal of investment to meet legal requirements.

Capacity at other provision – Members raised concern about the capacity at alternative provision identified within the report, having heard that Aut Even may not have the capacity to provide services seven days a week until January 2014.  The Deputy Director, Children and Adults explained that there was some vacancies at alternative provision to accommodate families and those providers were committed to developing services further to increase capacity.  The intention was that capacity to accomodate affected families would be in place by the time of the closure of Preston Skreens.  All affected families were being offered reassessments, some of which had already taken place and, of those, some families had accepted that Aut Even met their needs and others had agreed to receive driect payments.

Retaining Preston Skreens until sufficient alternative provision is available  – Members raised concern that there appeared to be some uncertainty between officers and parents/carers about capacity levels and were keen to see that Preston Skreens remains open until sufficient capacity at alternative provision is made available.  Officers confirmed they were working with Medway NHS Foundation Trust but the notice by the Trust to cease the provision at Preston Skreens was still in place.

Consultation and communication – concerns were raised about the length of time that had lapsed since Medway NHS Foundation Trust served notice and that there appear to be some mis-information about levels of capacity available.  A suggestion was also made that a Cabinet Advisory Group be set up, with parents, scrutiny members and representatives from the commissioner and provider organisations to work together.

Decision:

The committee recommended the Cabinet to agree that Option 1A and 1B be implemented and that the Medway NHS Foundation Trust be requested to continue provision at Preston Skreens until adequate alternative provision is available for affected families.