Agenda and minutes

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

The following personal declarations of interest were made in respect of Agenda item 6 – Older People’s Day Services and Day Services for People with Learning Disabilities (Minute No. 29 refers):-

·  Councillor Chapman, as she has a relative who works in a private sector care home.

·  Councillor Ewens, in her capacity as a Board Member on the Management Committee of Cardigan Centre and, in that capacity, who is also a member of Older Active People.

·  Councillor Gabriel, in her capacity as an NHS employee.

·  Councillor Hanley, in his capacity as a Director of Bramley Elderly Action.

·  Councillor McKenna, in his capacity as a part-time care worker with Armley Helping Hands.

·  Councillor Taylor, in her capacity as an NHS employee.

·  Ms J Fisher, in her capacity as a member of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Group and Carer Reference Group.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillors Mrs R Feldman, V Morgan and A Taylor and from Sally Morgan, Co-optee on equality issues.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides information presented to Executive Board about the future plans for Day services across the city.

Further to Minute No. 24, 29^th July 2009, the Chair welcomed Members and officers to this special meeting of the Board, which had been arranged to look at the issue of day services for older people and people with learning disabilities and, in particular, proposals which might lead to the closure of six existing day care centres – Bramley Lawn, Doreen Hamilton, Holbeck, Otley, Woodhouse and Naburn Court.

Present at the meeting and responding to Members’ queries and comments were:-

-  Sandie Keene, Director of Adult Social Services

-  Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director (Strategic Commissioning)

-  Kim Maslyn, Interim Head of Service, Adult Social Care

Sandie Keene, Director of Adult Social Services, gave the Board a presentation on the reasons why the service was introducing the proposals. This covered the financial position in Adult Social Care Services and increased demographic profile in the City. The need to continue delivering efficiencies and modernise the service was highlighted. The background to the national shift away from more traditional, buildings-based  services, such as those provided at day care centres, was explained. Utilising direct payments and personal budgets, the aim was to offer a more personalised service, with an emphasis on people exercising control and choice in the provision of services to meet their personal needs.  Often this was via Neighbourhood Networks and community based, universal services and facilities, which also assisted integration within the wider community.

This fundamental shift in emphasis meant that in future, local authorities could concentrate on providing, or commissioning, services for those with the greatest needs, including specialist services, rather then having to promote general services for all.  In Leeds, this was evolving into the development of services for people suffering from dementia, re-enablement services, specialist BME services, services aimed specifically at carers, and other initiatives such as the development of Well-being Centres and an increase in the number of outreach workers. Day services for those with specialist needs were currently over-subscribed.

There would always be a need for some specialist day care centres, and no-one with eligible need who required this service would be denied it. Everyone who currently received day care services would be offered an alternative placement.  However, currently there was over-provision of places in Leeds and rationalisation was necessary, which would almost inevitably lead to the closure of some existing day care centres and the transfer, after consultation, of their users to other, similar facilities.

The Council had embarked on a widespread consultation campaign, including extensive individual consultation with service users and their carers, which was due to expire at the end of September.  Although certain assumptions had been made, based on statistical evidence, the condition of centres and the geographic spread of day care centres across the City, that the six named centres would no longer be required for that purpose, the Director emphasised that no decisions had yet been made.  Following the consultation period and the collation of the results, a further report would be submitted to the Executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Wednesday, 9^th September 2009 at 10.00 a.m. with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 a.m.

Wednesday 9^th September 2009, at 10.00am (Pre-Meeting at 9.30am).