To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

Submitted – the report of the Director of Social Services in respect of the above.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Social Services reported that it is important to note that it is the people who use the learning disabilities day opportunities that are important whilst considering this report and the facilities that they require currently and in the future.   She thanked the Officer for their work in discussions with the service users, families and service providers as to the facilities they wish to see in the future.

The Director of Social Services reported that it is necessary to reshape and modernise the day opportunities services in order to develop sustainable opportunities for individuals to achieve their potential and further improve the delivery of the service in the most cost effective way.  He noted that the Council has currently a number of different day opportunities available to people with learning disabilities which some are in-house services run by the Council and some are commissioned externally.  The current in-house provision is afforded at Morswyn, Holyhead, Blaen y Coed, Llangoed, Gerddi Haulfre, Llangoed and Gors Felen, Llangefni.  The Canolfan Byron Workshop is excluded from the transformation of the disability day centres at present but will be reviewed under a separate work stream.   Under the direction of the Adults Service Transformation Board a series of visits to various day centres on the Island were arranged with opportunities for all Elected Members to attend. Workshops were held to undertake the appraisal of the options put forward for the future of the day centres.  He noted that the service is undertaking these changes in order to reflect increase in demand and to ensure sustainability for the future.  Key challenges faced by the current in-house day centres was in included at page 7 of the report.

The Director of Social Services further reported that the proposal is to develop a more community based opportunities for people with learning disabilities, extend the provision at Gors Felen and close the services provided at Morswyn, Blaen y Coed and Gerddi Haulre.  The new service would afford flexible opportunities for people with learning disabilities and would meet future demand including people with more complex needs.

Members agreed that there is a requirement to review and enhance the day services afforded to people with learning disabilities. However, the discussion with people who use the service and their families need to be incorporated into an honest and informative discussion as regards to the future facilities to be afforded and people with learning disabilities needs to be central to the discussion undertaken.  

The Committee considered the report and raised the following main matters:-

·      Clarification was sought as to the timeframe the Adult’s Services consider, following consultation that may result in possible closure of some the learning disabilities day facilities.  The Director of Social Services responded that consultation will have to be undertaken with services users and any decision to close any learning disability facility would be undertaken over a period of time. The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Social Services said that some facilities offered by the Council in certain location may not close and third sector provider may take over the facility.  Current provider services who afford support within the day centres for learning disabilities need to be consulted as regards to the services provided within these centres;

·      Reference was made within the report that some service users are having to commute to and from the day services for a considerable period of time on transport afforded by the Council.  The Director of Social Services responded that this is an issue that has been highlighted with people having to commute for a considerable period on transport afforded; the Adult’s Services acknowledges that it is unacceptable for people having to be on buses for a considerable period of time.  The Adult’s Services consider that having community base facilities would be a more effective provision for service users of the learning disabilities day opportunities.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the Executive to:-

·      Support the principle of public consultation on the proposal to develop more community based opportunities for people with a learning disabilities;

·      Authorise Officers to conduct a formal consultation on the proposal.

ACTION : As noted above.