The
Chairman acknowledged with thanks all Members of the working group,
voluntary sector partners, officers, deputees, and Lee Culhane from Healthwatch, who served as the independent
chair.
Members considered the Healthwatch
Report (Appendix 1 to Annex A) and the Director of Adults’
Health and Care presented the findings from their report to the
Executive Member for Adults Social Care and Health (Annex A) for
her 3 December Decision Day. The
department thanked all users, parent carers, and the voluntary and
independent sector for their collaboration and contribution to
engagement.
Members heard:
-
An overview of the Orchard Close Respite Centre
services and building.
-
Savings needed from transformation programme led to
the public consultation, and eventually to the working group for
consideration of all possible wider options.
-
The service will continue to run, and it is
important to note there are no plans to close Orchard Close Respite
Centre as part of Transformation to 2021.
-
Unprecedented savings are required and this
reduction proposal and income from other respite units are being
considered to address the £617,000 savings
deficit.
-
Many carers depend on the service and users
appreciate the location and food.
-
Due to current financial climate issues, savings
must be considered but with equitable services and in keeping with
the Care Act.
-
More affordable service is being explored due to
lower occupancy and previous usage patterns.
-
The next public consultation (with concurrent staff
consultation) will start after the general election to consider
views before proposed changes are implemented.
-
Equality Impact Assessments for both have been
completed and shared.
-
Full time equivalent staff would not be at risk with
other Hampshire County Council employment available to
them.
-
The shortfall of £332,000 recurring per annum
will be met from elsewhere in learning disability services and
equitable to loss of other services.
-
Successive transformations will incur more financial
pressures and challenges.
-
While minor building improvements have been taken on
(e.g. a new Wi-Fi network has already been installed), more major
adaptions lie with the Charity.
-
The Council supports the “Friends of Orchard
Close” group and the Leader has requested an advisory group
regarding the Charity housing Orchard Close.
-
Partnership with all stakeholders have contributed
to these recommendations.
In
response to questions, Members heard that bed capacity comparisons
to counties similar to Hampshire are difficult as most do not
provide and run in-house respite beds.
Members wished to thank all involved and commend the work of
everyone involved. They admired carers
for their extraordinary effort to keep Orchard Close open,
alongside their difficult day to day commitments and
responsibilities. Members noted their
support of the recommendations and hoped that loss of beds would
not lead to further consequences down the line. Required savings are a significant and major
challenge and under the circumstances, the outcome is positive to
keep Orchard Close’s trusted, highly valued, and wonderful
environment available for service users.
Members thanked the Task and Finish Group and agreed to
Recommendations A and B (see below).
The Committee hoped the Executive Member would agree as well but
noted that the financial consequences of a further third of a
million savings would still be necessary.
RESOLVED
That the Committee:
Recommendation A
That the Task and Finish Group recommend to the Health and Adult
Social Care Select Committee (HASC) that it endorses the following
recommendations: That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care
and Health:
-
Acknowledges and thanks staff at Orchard Close,
Healthwatch, Carers Together, Hampshire
Advocacy and Orchard Close carers and service users for their
contributions to the engagement process and to the Healthwatch engagement report (see
attached).
-
Confirms there are no proposals relating to the
closure of the respite service at Orchard Close within the
Transformation to 2021 plans considered by Full Council on 7
November 2019 and that the County Council will continue to run a
respite service at Orchard Close.
-
Gives permission to go out to consultation on the
proposals contained in this report including the reduction in the
number of respite beds offered at Orchard Close Respite Service
from a total of 13 to 10 beds.
-
Notes that the proposals for other Hampshire County
Council Learning Disabilities respite services to increase their
income from other public bodies will be included in the
consultation as set out in this report.
-
Notes that Officers will continue to support carers
to explore further the possibility of a Friends of Orchard Close
group.
-
Notes that an advisory group for the Orchard Close
Charitable Trust will be formed following a request by the Leader
of the County Council. Any proposals in relation to the Orchard
Close Charitable Trust will be subject to agreement by the
Executive Member of Policy and Resources.
Recommendation B
The
Task and Finish Group have noted the significant financial
implications on the Adults' Health and Care department budget as a
result of continuing to run a respite service at Orchard Close and
recommend that the HASC also note this impact – an estimated
£332,000 deficit. This is a minimum level of financial
deficit provided that proposals around bed reduction at Orchard
Close and attracting income from other public bodies goes ahead
following consultation.
The
Chairman called for a 10-minute recess until 11:00am
Cllr
Quantrill arrived at 10:55.