To set out the detailed changes being proposed in the provision of day opportunities as requested by Cabinet at the meeting held on 22 January 2009, which will help deliver the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Group, approved in principle by Cabinet at that meeting, in order to secure best use of resources.

The Cabinet Member Social Care Adults, Councillor LO Barnett introduced the report and thanked the Adult Social Care and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committee, under the Chairmanship of Councillor PA Andrews for their work.

The Cabinet Member outlined the main issues of the report which included; lack of usage of some centres and their high unit cost, the quality and variety of activities on offer in many centres, the inefficient arrangements for transporting service users to centres, and the need to implement clear assessment processes for accessing day services.  Members were informed that difficult choices would need to be made in this and future years.

The Director of Integrated Commissioning, Dr Ian Williams stated that as requested when the item was previously considered by Cabinet in January 2009, appropriate consultation take place regarding the possible closure of Norfolk House with a recommendation that the service users be invited to move to the service provided at Waverley House, located directly next-door.  The outcome of the consultation was attached as Appendix 3 to the report.  Dr Williams advised Cabinet that it was necessary to commission services to meet assessed needs of service users, and a model to deliver on the requirements for both the modernising of day opportunities and the development of complementary low-level preventative service was at an advanced stage.  Cabinet was informed that maximum use would be made of the existing contractual arrangements with Shaw Healthcare under the 30-year contract.

The Chairman of Adult Social Care and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committee, Councillor PA Andrews, highlighted the inadvisability of the authority committing to a to 30 year contract and suggested that the cost of transporting service users to day centres be explored to deliver better value for money e,g management of taxi contracts.  The need for formal assessment processes was additionally stressed, with the example given of one service user of 18 years standing who had not been assessed during this time.

Members supported the view that the transport costs needed to be explored and an additional recommendation (c) was proposed.  Examples were provided by Members of inefficient and illogical transportation arrangements.  The Director of Integrated Commissioning informed Cabinet that both transportation costs and scheduling arrangements would be considered.

Responding to a comment regarding the importance of the continuation of friendship links and the efforts being made to retain these links, the Director of Integrated Commissioning stated that many aspects of service provision were being assessed and acknowledged the importance of friendship links to those within them.

The Director of Integrated Commissioning, in response to a request to clarify current arrangements with Shaw Healthcare stated that the authority was five years into a 30 year long term contract with Shaw Healthcare for co-located specialist care and day opportunities.  For the duration of the contract, maximum use would be made of Shaw establishments.

RESOLVED That Cabinet:

(a)          approve the closure of the in-house day service for older people at Norfolk House, redeployment of two part-time day centre staff and transfer of day service provision to Waverley House;

(b)          note the closure of some under-utilised mobile day centres for older people and the re-provision of services to appropriate alternative centres, with consequential extensions and variations to a number of existing provider contracts;

(c)          requests that the Director of Integrated Commissioning considers the concerns expressed by Cabinet about transportation issues relating to taxi and bus provision for clients of day services for older people.