Invitees

Susan Cooper, Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing

Cllr Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member, Childrens Social Services and Equalities

Laura Kinsey, Head of Safeguarding and Family Support

Pete Tyson, Planning and Contract Management Officer

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report on the work being undertaken as part of the Children with Disabilities Transformation programme which focused on the review of in-county residential provision and respite services for children with disabilities. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the Children with Disabilities Transformation is a sub-programme which sits beneath the Safeguarding and Family Support Change Programme, within which four distinct work areas had been identified.  She also informed the Committee that a consultation exercise with staff and stakeholders was commencing today which would inform options for the delivery of respite services and in-county accommodation in the future. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that it was the Council’s aim for children and young people to remain in their local community with family and friends in order to ensure stability in their lives.  It was proposed to increase residential care at Heronsbridge School from the current 38 week provision for up to 6 service users for 5 days a week to 52 week residential provision.  There are three young people receiving 39 week residential care whose needs were such that they may in future require 52 week residential care.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing also informed the Committee that Bakers Way currently provides an overnight respite/short break service for Children with Disabilities.  The facility has been subject to review and whilst it provides a valuable short breaks service, there are drawbacks such as high transport costs, high cancellation rates and the need to improve access for wheelchair users.  The Planning and Contract Management Officer informed the Committee of the gaps he had identified with current provision.  Discussions had commenced with the families of the three existing high cost out of county placements that could potentially be placed in county with 52 week residential provision.  Discussions had also commenced on the viability of increasing the registration of Heronsbridge to 52 week residential provision. 

The Committee questioned the number of out of county placements and whether there is a waiting list.  The Planning and Contract Management Officer informed the Committee that there were 13 out of county placements as at June 2015, 3 of which would be suitable for in county provision based on 52 week residential provision.  The average cost for an out of county placement is £180k per annum and the 3 high cost out of county placements suitable for 52 week residential provision cost £676k.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the Council did not operate a waiting list for placements.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing also informed the Committee that it was proposed to create 52 week residential provision by redeveloping facilities at Heronsbridge. The Planning and Contract Management Officer informed the Committee there is existing out of county provision at facilities in Cardiff, Brecon and Cheltenham. 

The Committee referred to the report identifying 3 existing out of county placements returning to in county provision and also the potential for another 6 out of county placements to be brought in county and questioned the number of beds which were taken at Heronsbridge and whether adaptations were to be carried out at Weston House.  The Planning and Contract Management Officer informed the Committee that there was at present 39 week provision at Heronsbridge, however some analysis had been undertaken of the placements and it was believed that 3 or 4 places would be sufficient as some of the young people due to their ages would shortly be transitioning into adult social care.  It was intended to refurbish the existing vacant caretakers lodge at Heronsbridge which would free up heron House for 52 week residential provision for which a capital bid of £100k had been made for the conversion works.  The Cabinet Member Childrens Social Services and Equalities informed the Committee that Weston House has 35 beds for 16-19 year olds but was not at full capacity.  She also informed the Committee that a further report would be brought to this Committee on the proposals prior to them being considered by Cabinet.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the proposals for new models for respite services had not yet been firmed up and would be subject to consultation with the governing body of Heronsbridge School.  She stated that costings for adapting Weston House were being worked up but the existing facility could not deal with children with very challenging and complex behavioural issues.  She also stated that the out of county placements were necessary due to the complexity of the behavioural issues. 

The Committee referred to the review of Bakers Way which had found that one of the drawbacks was the high cost of transport to Bakers Way and questioned the long term plan for the facility and the reasons for the high cancellation rates.  The Committee also questioned the nature of the report to Cabinet and where does the Scrutiny process fit in.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that an options report for the short break service would be brought to this Committee prior to it being presented to Cabinet.  She stated that parents of service users had been this morning at the consultation event to discuss proposals for the short breaks service.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that there are 5 places available at Bakers Way but it was very difficult for the facility to be full to capacity at any one time due to the facilities not being suitable to meet current need as the building required renovation work to accommodate wheelchair users to the upper floor.  Discussions were taking place with families on a bookings system which needed to be more flexible to accommodate overnight stays at short notice.  The outcome of the discussions will inform an options paper.  She stated that the future of Bakers Way for respite needed to be considered in the context of being used in an alternative way as it was currently closed during the day.  The Cabinet Member Childrens Social Services and Equalities confirmed that the options would be subject to the Scrutiny process prior to it being considered by Cabinet.  A member of the Committee stated that the lack of a lift / stair lift system at Bakers Way to accommodate wheelchair users had been picked up by Members undertaking rota visits.  The Committee considered that the facility at Bakers Way could be revolutionised if it offered 52 week residential provision.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that it was not intended to offer 52 week residential provision at Bakers Way as it was intended to be used for short breaks. 

The Committee questioned whether staff affected had been involved in the consultation.  The Head of Safeguarding and Assessment informed the Committee that the first consultation with staff at Bakers Way on the proposals was taking place this afternoon and she had ensured that staff are being offered as much reassurance as could be given.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that consultation was taking place with staff on the basis of the future service model and staff were anticipating change, but there was also a need to see what staff want as well. 

The Committee questioned the current registration of premises which was based on 39 week residential provision.  The Planning and Contract Management Officer informed the Committee that Heronsbridge and Weston House were at present registered to provide 39 week residential provision and there is an appetite for both facilities to provide 52 week residential provision in order that children are able to stay near to their families and friends.  He stated that both providers had made enquiries with the CSSIW to increase their registration to 52 week residential provision.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing stated that discussions take place on a regular basis with the CSSIW to share the Council’s current thinking and proposals on service provision.  The Head of Safeguarding and Assessment informed the Committee that the CSSIW are supportive of the Council and the principles underpinning this approach which is one of the priorities for the forthcoming year.

Conclusions                                          

1.    The Committee welcomed the general principle of having a 52 week residential provision for children with disabilities in the county borough and also supported the review of respite services.  Members also supported any extension of the role of Heronsbridge as a means of returning children from out of County.

2.    In relation to any future options for Respite Care, Members expressed the view that the current staff should be retained as far as possible due to their experience and skills and the fact that the number of children requiring this provision would still potentially be the same.

3.    The Committee noted that the Officer’s report stated that a further report would go to Cabinet following consultation, however there was no mention of Scrutiny in the process for pre-decision scrutiny.  Members commented that there should be a collaborative relationship in that any report planned for  consultation should be subject to objective consideration from Scrutiny at an appropriate time before a decision is made by Cabinet.

4.    With this in mind, the Committee requested that a further report be provided to Scrutiny on the developed options approximately two thirds of the way through the consultation process so that Members can provide views on the options as a consultee and also monitor the consultation process.

5.      The committee also requested that this report include:

a)    details of cost comparisons for future respite care; should the care continue in Bakers Way and adaptations made against costs of moving the provision elsewhere;

b)    details of staffing provision relating to an increase to 52 week residential care, due to the fact that this would require a substantial change for staff in their working patterns.