Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed the Board of a request for scrutiny that had been received from UNISON concerning the two mental health day centres.  Reference was also made to the proposals to close the Crisis Centre which had been previously considered by the Board.  The matters of issue raised by UNISON included the following:

• Potential failures of the Executive Board process with regards to the day centre report
• Failure to properly equality impact assess the proposals to decommission two mental health day centres.

In addition, the Scrutiny Unit had received 29 individual requests for Scrutiny from members of the public.  The following reasons were cited for the request for scrutiny:

• That the i3 document used by Adult Social Care in the deliberations to close the day centres states that there should be no closures
• The lack of appropriate consultation

The Chair welcomed Tony Pearson, Regional Organiser for Leeds UNISON and Alex Offer, Barrister acting on behalf of the Tri-centre Group to the meeting.

Tony Pearson gave the following reasons in support of UNISON’s request for scrutiny:

• Confusion caused at the Executive Board meeting which initially considered the closure of Mental Health Services due to the introduction of revised information which was not available to all attendee as there were insufficient copies.
• A failure by the Council to carry out its ‘duty to consult’.
• Reliance on the i3 report.
• Closure of the centres would not be a qualitative measure.
• Risk assessments for current service users had not been undertaken.
• Lack of proper consultation with stakeholders – without this the shape of future services could not be determined.
• Lack of dialogue with other groups that use the centres including the physically disabled.

In summary, he reported that the situation was causing a great deal of distress to service users and asked the Board to give further consideration to the issues raised before referring the issue back to Executive Board.

Alex Offer addressed the Board on behalf of the Tri-centre Group.  He highlighted the following points of concern and reasons to support the request for scrutiny over the proposals to close Mental Health services:

• Most users of the day centres felt unable to cope with having to access services at other locations
• Should two of the existing centres close, there would not be enough capacity to carry out the required services.
• The proposals had caused a great deal of anxiety and stress to service users and there were humanitarian and medical reasons to reconsider the proposals.
• The Tri-Centre Group was willing to work in partnership with the Council in an attempt to identify alternative solutions.
• The full views of service users had not been taken into account.
• The decision in principle was flawed and it was irrational to carry out consultation after the decision.
• It was requested that the proposals be given further scrutiny with an option for service users to participate.

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issued were discussed:

• Lack of an option to retain services as presently delivered.
• Discussion with Executive Board Members did not take place until the decision was made.
• Further consideration regarding the Equality Impact Assessment
• What were the timescales for the proposals?
• Concern regarding the consultation process.
• Safeguarding issues for the vulnerable individuals concerned.

It was proposed that the Board should request a written response from the Director of Adult Social Care regarding the Equality Impact Assessment and also to the written submission of the Tri-Centre Group.  It was also suggested that a report on consultation for service reconfiguration in Adult Social Care be submitted to the Board.

Following a vote by Members of the Board, it was:

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Director of Adult Social Services be requested to provide a written response to the Equality Impact Assessment and the submission of the Tri-Centre Group

(b)  That a report on consultation for reconfiguration of services within Adult Social Care be requested.