Agenda item

Outcome of consultation on revised approach to day support in adult social care

Decision:

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1. To agree the closure of Physical Disability Day Opportunities, Riverside day centre and Pritchard’s Road day centre with effect from 4 May 2021

2. To agree to develop Russia Lane as a ‘dementia hub’ day service

3. To agree to open a community support hub from May 2021 onwards (if it is safe to do so in light of the Covid-19 pandemic)

4. To endorse the proposal to encourage more people to organise their own day support through a direct payment

5. To agree the commitment to make Tower Hamlets a more inclusive place for people with care and support needs.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITY (D. RADLEY)

(Divisional Director, Adult Social Care (C. Brown)

(Joint Director, Integrated Commissioning (W. Tomsett)

(Head of Strategy and Policy, Health, Adults and community (J. Starkie)

Minutes:

Councillor Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, introduced the report on the outcome of the consultation in relation to day support in adult social care. She thanked the service users and carers who had taken part in the consultation highlighting the services they most value. Lockdown had been a very difficult time for service users and the Council was grateful for their time and contributions.

The purpose of the review was to look at pressure on the services and how services could be shaped in the future. She noted that there was significant opposition to the closure of the physical disability day centres but she confirmed the Council’s view that these services could successfully be provided under the new community hub model. Appendix 1 set out the vision for the community hub at Somali Gardens. The equalities impacts were set out as well as how those were mitigated. It was important that services could improve mental and physical health of users and benefit their carers. The Community Hub would offer them a safe space were services could be provided and advice given. There would also be a specific hub for dealing with Dementia.

The equalities impact assessment noted the risks to those with protected characteristics and the mitigation measures were set out. It was also noted that pilot projects for new service idea would be trialled.

The Cabinet then heard from a number of speakers including Councillors, residents and service users who raised a number of issues including:

· Whether service users would be able to cope with the changes and the extent to which it could set them back.

· The excellent provision of the existing services and that new solutions may result in lower quality care.

· Whether the consultation had been effective and that the responses were not in favour of many of the changes.

· The impact on women, older people, those from ethnic minorities and others with protected characteristics.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their responses and contributions to the meeting. He highlighted how important it was that people were able to access services that can support them when they really need it. He noted how the hub would work and how other locations would be used. Support would be provided to service users as the changes were made. Finally, he noted there was a lot to do to ensure everyone could enjoy all the opportunities available in Tower Hamlets.

The Mayor noted the pre-decision scrutiny questions and officer responses. He proposed the recommendations as set out. These were agreed without dissent and it was:

RESOLVED