To:GrahamGibbens,CabinetMemberforAdult

SocialCareandPublicHealth

From:AndrewIreland,CorporateDirectorofSocialCare

HealthandWellbeing

DecisionNumber:16/00067

Subject:ACCOMMODATIONBASEDSHORTBREAKMODEL

Classification: / Unrestricted
Previous Pathway / of Paper: / Social Care, Health and Wellbeing DMT – 7
September2016
AdultSocialCareandHealthCabinetCommittee
–11October2016

FuturePathwayofPaper: CabinetMemberdecision

ElectoralDivision: Faversham

Summary:Atwelveweekformalconsultationperiodstartedon7June2016. TheconsultationdocumentssetoutthefutureprovisionofKentCountyCouncil(KCC)accommodationbasedshortbreaksforchildren,youngpeopleandadultswithadisability. Theconsultationdocumentsexplainedtheworkthathasbeencompletedintheassessmentanddesignphasesoftheshortbreakstransformationproject.TheysetouttheimportanceforKCCtopubliclyconsultontheproposaltoendserviceprovisionfromOsborneCourt,Faversham,includingseekingviewsofwhatthecurrent58servicesusersandfamilycarerswouldwantfromthealternativeshortbreaksaccommodationbasedservice.

Thisreportsetsouthowtheformalconsultationprocesswasmanagedandprovidesdetailontheoutcomesandconclusionsoftheconsultationprocess.

Recommendations: TheCabinetMemberforAdultSocialCareandPublicHealthisaskedto

a)PROCEEDwiththeAccommodationBasedShortBreakModel

b)ENDserviceprovisionfromOsborneCourt andidentifyalternativeservicesforthe

58serviceusersandfamilycarersandcloseOsborneCourt.

c)DELEGATEauthoritytotheCorporateDirectorofSocialCare,HealthandWellbeing,orothernominatedofficer,toundertakethenecessaryactionstoimplementthedecision.

1.Introduction

TheconsultationdocumentssetouttheproposedfutureprovisionofKCCaccommodationbasedshortbreaksforchildren,youngpeopleandadultswithadisability. Theyexplaintheworkthathasbeencompletedintheassessmentanddesignphasesoftheshortbreakstransformationproject. TheysetouttheneedforKCCtopubliclyconsultontheproposaltoendserviceprovisionfromOsborneCourt,includingseekingviewsofwhatthecurrent58servicesusers

basedservices.

1.2Consultationdocumentswerecirculatedtoallstakeholderseitherbypostoremailandwerealsoavailableontheconsultationwebsite. Inordertounderstand the proposals in full, and the response tothe consultation, allpartiesneedtohavereadeitheroneoralloftheconsultationdocumentsincludedasbackgrounddocumentstothisreport.

2.Visionandservicemodel

2.1DuringJulyanumberofservicemodeldesignworkshopswereheldandthefollowingvisionforashortbreaksservicemodelwasformed:

Thein-housemodeloffersaspecialistovernightanddaytimeaccommodationbasedshortbreaksservice,whichmeetstheneedsandaspirationsoftheserviceusersandtheirfamiliesofthoseaged16yearsandabove,whohavedisabilities,andadditionalcomplexneeds.

Thecriterionfor‘complex’needsis:

Serviceusermeetsdependencylevel3to6

Carerisincrisis(irrespectiveofthecomplexityofthepersontheycarefor)

2.2A key focus for the redesign will be to ensure services providingaccommodationbasedshortbreaksarealigned(alongsideotherservices)withtheLifespanPathway(aseamlesscontinuityofsupportfrom0-25,fordisabledchildren/youngpeopleandtheirfamilies,intoadulthood).

2.3Thereforetheproposedmodelforaccommodationbasedshortbreaksis:

a) Acountywideaccommodationbasedshortbreakservicewhichmeetstheneedsandaspirationsoftheserviceusersaged16yearsandabovewhohavedisabilities,andadditionalcomplexneedsandtheirfamilies. Theserviceswillalsohaveaclearfocusonsupportingcarersincrisisirrespectiveofthecomplexityofthepersontheycarefor.

b) ThecountywideservicewillconsistofsixadultaccommodationbasedshortbreakunitsacrossKent,(fourKentCountyCouncilin-houseandtwoexternalprivateproviders)thatareinvestedintoprovidemodern,accessiblefacilitiesthatarefitforpurpose,particularlyforthosewiththemostcomplexneedsandthereforefitforthefuture,withfivedisabledchildrenshortbreaksunits(KentCountyCouncilinhouse)whichalreadymeettheneedsofcomplexindividualsandarefitforpurpose.

c)Therewillbegreaterintegrationbetweenthechildren’sandadultsshortbreakservicestoensureamorestreamlinedtransitionfortheserviceuser. Withashiftfromaccesstotheshortbreakservicebeingbasedonthe 18th birthday of an individual to the appropriate time within thetransitionfromchildrentoadultservices(betweentheagesof16and25)basedonindividualneeds.

theservicestheproposalistoproceedwiththeaccommodationbasedshortbreakmodelandtoendserviceprovisionfromOsborneCourtandidentifyalternativeservicesforthe58serviceusersandfamilycarers.

3.OutcomeofFormalConsultation

3.1ConsultationProcess

3.1.1Atwelveweekformalconsultationwascarriedoutbetween7Juneand29

August2016. Consultationhasbeenextensive,withconsultationpacks,easyreadconsultationpacksandquestionnairescascadedtoallstakeholdersandavailableontheKCCconsultationwebpage. Thisincludedparent/carers,staff,TradeUnions,AdvocacyGroups,CarersOrganisations,CommunityPartners,IntegratedTeams,Borough/TownCouncillorsandKCCMembers.

3.1.2Atotalof247consultationpackswerecirculatedviaarangeofformats:

152copieswerepostedtoserviceusers,familycarersandstaff

64 copies were emailed internally toKCC Members, Locality Teams,DisabledChildren’sServicesandotherrelevantofficers

31copieswereemailedtorelevantLocalBoroughandTownCouncillors,CommunityOrganisationsandthewidercommunity

3.1.3 Anumberofstakeholderfocusedmeetingdatestookplaceasfollows:

MeetingDate / MeetingTime / FocusofMeeting
Monday7thJune / 2.30–3.30pm / CountyCouncillors,CabinetMembers
Wednesday8thJune / 2–3.30pm / Staff
Wednesday8thJune / 5–7pm / ServiceUsers/Parents/Carers
Wednesday15thJune / 1–2.30pm / Staff
Wednesday15thJune / 3–5pm / ServiceUsers/Parents/Carers
Wednesday29thJune / 2–3pm / Staff
Wednesday29thJune / 3–4pm / OtherStakeholdersLocalCouncillors
Wednesday29thJune / 5–7pm / ServiceUsers/Parents/Carers
Monday11thJuly / 3.30–4.30pm / FavershamHealthMatters**
Monday25thJuly / 7pm / FavershamTownCouncil**

**Additionalmeetingsrequested

3.1.4Furtherletters,dated21Juneand18August2016,werepostedtoserviceusersandfamilycarerstoremindthemoftheimportanceofbookingtheir1:1meeting(ifnotalreadybooked).

3.1.5TheCouncil’sPressOfficeputouttwopressreleases,oneatthebeginningoftheconsultationperiodinJuneandanotherapproximatelyoneweekpriortotheendoftheconsultationperiod,toremindstakeholderstorespond.ResponsestotheconsultationwerereceivedfromanumberofstakeholdersandtherewerealsotwoarticlespublishedinKentOnlineandFavershamTimesregardingtheproposals.

withthecaremanagerandOsborneCourtmanagerandtheserviceusersandfamilycarersthatcurrentlyaccessOsborneCourt. Theremainingfourwerealreadyintheprocessofmovingtopermanentplacementsandsowouldnotrequireashortbreaksserviceinthefuture. Themeetingsweretodiscussthefuturemodelandtheimpactoftheproposalonindividualcircumstances.Informationwasavailableontherangeofalternativeshortbreakservicesandvisitstotheotherserviceswerearranged,whererequested.

3.1.7Thetablebelowidentifiesthepreferencesmadebytheserviceusersandfamilycarersfollowingdiscussionsatthe1:1meetings:

ProposedAlternative
Service / 1stPreference / InProcessof
Accessing / Total
Southfields / 21 / 1 / 22
Meadowside / 8 / - / 8
Hedgerows / 2 / - / 2
CanterburyASU / 7 / 2 / 9
ExternalProvider / 6 / - / 6
SharedLives / 3 / 3 / 6
DirectPayment / - / 1 / 1
Permanent
Placements / 1 / 3 / 4
Total / 58

3.1.8Thereareafiveserviceusersandfamilycarerswhohaverequestedtobeginaplannedtransitiontoalternativeshortbreakservicespriortotheoutcomeoftheproposalasfollows:

PlannedTransitionsinProgress
Southfields / 2
Hedgerows / 2
CanterburyASU / 1

3.1.9The table below highlights the impact of the above preferences on theoccupancyofthefourremainingservices(ifproposalgoesahead):

ShortBreak
Units / Beds / Occupancy
(Sept2015) / Occupancy
(July2016) / ImpactofConsultationPreferences / Status
%Occupied
(PostDecision)
Meadowside,Deal / 22 / -24.40% / -24.40% / -18% / 82%
Southfields,Ashford / 15 / -22.96% / -26.38% / -4.20% / 96%
Hedgerows,Staplehurst / 5 / 100% / -9% / -3% / 97%

3.1.10Advocacyserviceswereavailabletoserviceusersandfamilycarersaspartoftheconsultation. AcontractwithAdvocacyforAll,anindependentadvocacyserviceisinplaceandindividualscanapproachAdvocacyforAllforsupportatanytime. ThekeycarersorganisationsacrossKentwereinformedoftheconsultation,emailedconsultationpacksdirectlyandinformedofthedatesofthecarerfocusedconsultationmeetings.

3.1.11FurtheropportunitytodiscussthemodelandproposalsandgainfeedbackcameatasocialeventandbarbequeheldatOsborneCourt. Theeventwasattendedbyover80peopleandviewsweregatheredfromover20serviceusersandfamilycarerswhocurrentlyaccessOsborneCourt. Theseviewsandfeedbackareincludedin3.3below.

3.2Number and Type of Responses – Completed questionnaires, number ofdownloadedconsultationdocumentsandcommunicationreceived.

3.2.1Thetablebelowshowsthenumberofonlinequestionnairescompletedontheconsultationwebpageandnumberofemailandwrittenresponsesreceivedtotheconsultationmailboxduringtheconsultationperiod.

Consultationresponsesfrom: / No.Completed
Questionnaires / No.EmailResponses / No.writtenResponses / No.TelephoneResponses
ServiceUsers / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0
FamilyCarers / 10 / 2 / 0 / 6
Staff / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0
WiderPublic / 6 / 0 / 0 / 0
Organisations / 0 / 2 / 2 / 0
TotalResponses / 23 / 4 / 2 / 6

3.2.2Thenumberofconsultationpacksandotherdocumentsdownloadedfromtheconsultationwebsitewasasfollows:

ConsultationDocument(Wordversion) / 131downloads
ConsultationDocument(PDFversion) / 70downloads
ConsultationDocument-EasyRead / 68downloads
EqualityImpactAssessment(WordVersion) / 76downloads
EqualityImpactAssessment(PDFVersion) / 55downloads
MemberBriefingPaper(WordVersion) / 103downloads
MemberBriefingPaper(PDFVersion) / 51downloads
FrequentlyAskedQuestions / 60downloads
Total / 614Downloads

3.3KeyThemes-feedbackandcommentsfromserviceusersandfamilycarers

3.3.1Astheshortbreakserviceprovidesrespitetothecarers,theywerethemainfocusofconversationsduringtheconsultationperiod. Serviceusershavebeeninvolvedinbothgroupand1:1meetingsaswellasanyvisitstoalternativeservices. Service users and their family carers will also have extensiveinvolvementinplanningtheirtransitiontoanalternativeservice,ifthedecisionismadetocloseOsborneCourt.

3.3.2AselectionofcommentsandFrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQ)isprovidedbelow,andafullcopyoftheFAQsisincludedwiththebackgrounddocumentstothisreport.

a) Theeffectofchangeontheindividualsaccessingtheservicewasakeyconcernforfamilycarers. Thisalongwiththechangeinstaffandroutinethatanewservicewouldbringworriedfamilycarers,particularlythosewhocareforindividualswithautismandcomplexneeds.

Familycarerswereencouragedtobooka1:1meetingwherethefuturemodelforaccommodationbasedshortbreakscouldbeexplainedindetailandforthemtohavetheopportunitytodiscusstheimpactthisnewmodelmayhaveontheirindividualcircumstances.Informationwasavailableontherangeofalternativeshortbreakservicesandiftheywishedtovisittheotherservicestheyweresupportedtodoso. Thefocusofthemeetingswastodiscusstheneedsoftheindividualandtheparticularsupportrequiredtoensureapositivetransitionwiththeminimumdisruptionpossibleiftheproposalweretogoahead.

b)The location of alternative services and travelling to alternativeserviceswasanissueraisedbythefamilycarers.

Astatementregardingthepossibleimpactoftheproposal,ifagreed(inthatit may result in a change in distance for some individuals to accessalternativeshortbreakservices)wasincludedintheMemberbriefingpaperthatwasavailableontheconsultationwebpage. Thesubjectwasalsodiscussedextensivelyinthestakeholdergroupmeetingsaswellasatthe

1:1meeting.

c) ServiceusersandfamilycarerswantedtoknowwhyOsborneCourthadbeenchosenastheserviceproposedtocloseandnotoneoftheotherservices.

WeexplainedthatadvicehadbeentakenfromourLandlords(KCCPropertyandInfrastructure)astowhichbuildingweproposedtoclose. SeeAppendix

1.

abletoaccommodatetheadditionalserviceusersthatmaychooseit.AlsohowwewouldmanagetherefurbishmentatSouthfieldsifithadtoclosewhilsttheworkwascompleted.

Theabovepointswerediscussedattheconsultationmeetingsandincludedinthepresentations. Weexplainedthatasthisisaproposalwewillnotbeinapositiontogiveaclearansweruntilwehavelistenedtothe58serviceusersandtheirfamilycarersastowhichalternativeservicestheymayfeelareappropriate. Thiswillinturninformwherethecapitalfundingisinvestedandanytimeframeandimpactthiswillhaveontheremainingfourbuildings.

3.3.3 GeneralFeedback

The family of service user A were concerned about the transitionprocessandsupportarrangementsforthemovetoSouthfields. TeavisitshavenowbeenarrangedforserviceuserAatSouthfieldsduringaplannedstay. Thefamilynowfeelre-assuredwiththetransitionprocessandthesupportforserviceuserAandthemselveswiththechanges.

 ServiceuserBhadoriginallysaidtheywouldnotgoanywhereelse.

AfterfurtherdiscussionwiththefamilyanddiscussionaboutaplannedtransitionforserviceuserB.itwasagreedontheirnextstayatOsborneCourt,wewouldarrangevisitsforthemtogotoSouthfieldsastheyfeltthatwouldbethemostappropriateservice.

“Asparents/carers,weneedthatrespitecaretounwindandrest,Ijustwantagoodstandardformysonandstaffarekeytothis. Idon’tcarehowfarIhavetotravelaslongasthefacilitiesaregood. IhavenoqualmsaboutOsborneCourtclosingaslongasyouhavethebudgettoimprovefacilitiesattheotherbuildings”.

3.4KeyThemes-feedbackandcommentsfrommembersofstaff

3.4.1Anumberofconcernswereraisedandquestionsaskedbymembersofstaffincluding:

a. ThestaffteamwerealsoconcernedastothereasonwhyOsborne

Courtwasthebuildingproposedtoclose.

StaffwereinformedthatadvicehadbeentakenfromourLandlords(KCCPropertyandInfrastructureDivision)astowhichbuildingweproposedtoclose.SeeAppendix1.

b.Therewerequestionsregardinghowwewouldmanagetherefurbishment of Southfields and possible closure of OsborneCourt and still make sure we had enough short break bedsavailable.

Thismatterwascoveredinthegroupmeetingsandpresentationswhereweexplainedthatanydecisionsgoingforwardwithregardstoplannedrefurbishmentofanyofthefourremainingbuildingsandthebusinesscontinuityoftheservicewillbemanagedfollowingtheoutcomeoftheconsultation.

maybeextrastaffneededattheotherfourremainingsitesiftheproposalgoesahead.

AspecificpresentationwasputtogetherforthestaffgroupmeetingsthatexplainedthattheCouncilwanttoretain,whereverpossible,thestaffemployedatOsborneCourt. CopiesofallconsultationpaperworkandFAQwereplacedonthestaffnoticeboard.

3.4.2ItwasexplainedbytheHumanResourcesAdvisoratthemeetingsthatiftheproposalgoesaheadtherewillbeaformal30daystaffconsultationperiodduringOctober/November2016duringwhichthefocuswillbeonexploringoptionsforsimilaroralternativerolesforstaffacrosstheIn-HouseProviderUnitandwiderKCCvacancies.

3.4.3Inordertosupportstaffduringthisconsultationperiodandpreparethemforwhatmaybeaheadthestaffgrouphavebeenprovidedwithadditionalinformationaboutworkingthroughchange,interviewingexperience,CVwritingandcareerplanning.

3.5Key Themes: feedback and comments from the wider public and fromorganisations

a)TherewereconcernsraisedbyFavershamHealthMatters(alocalCommunityInterestCompany)regardingrecentproposalstocloseanumberofservicesintheFavershamareabybothKCCandHealth,thereforeintheirviewleavingFavershamwithalackofservicesforlocalpeople.

TheconsultationreportincludedinformationthathighlightedthattheKCCaccommodationbasedshortbreakunitsarecountywideservices.Thereforetheyareregularlyaccessedbypeoplewhodonotlivelocallytotheshortbreakservicetheyutilise. Familycarersaccesstheservicethatbestmeetstheneedsofthepersontheycareforratherthantheclosesttowheretheylive. Thisisevidencedinthemaps,attachedasAppendix3,whichidentifythespreadofthosecurrentlyaccessingthe5ShortBreakServices.

3.5.1Furtherdetaileddatawascollatedaspartoftheassessmentphase,howeverthiswasnotincludedinthefinalreport. ThisadditionalinformationwasrequestedbyFavershamHealthMattersandwasprovidedbelow:

3.5.2ThetablebelowidentifiesthelocationoftheshortbreaksanddayservicesaccessedbythoseadultslivingwithintheME13andME9postcode:

SwaleData
TotalNumberofLDClientsinSwale(Caseload) / 186
ResidentialCare(personmovesawayfromtheirparents) / 60
SupportedLiving(personmovesawayfromtheirparents) / 19
SharedLives(personmovesawayfromtheirparents) / 3
Total–TheabovewouldnotaccessShortBreaks / 82
NumberofClientsLivingwithParent/CarersinthepostcodesME13ME9(personwillaccessShortBreaks) / 31
OsborneCourt / 5
OtherKCCShortBreaks(Meadowside,Southfields,CantASU,Hedgerows) / 4
ExternalShortBreaks(privateresidentialcarehomes) / 9
KCCDayServices(localservices) / 20
ExternalDayServices(localservices) / 22
DirectPayments(choosetopurchase) / 3
SupportingIndependenceService(localservice) / 4
DomiciliaryCare(inthehome) / 3
All31clientsaccess1ormoreoftheservicesaboveareeligibleforshortbreaks

3.5.3Thetableabovedemonstratesthatfromthe31adultswithalearningdisabilitylivinglocallytoOsborneCourt(postcodesME13ME9)onlyfivechoosetoaccessOsborneCourtfortheirshortbreak.

b) The option of accessing Southfields, Ashford and the issues withtransportwereraisedasaconcern. Astatementregardingthepossibleimpactoftheproposal,ifagreed,inthatitmayresultinachangeindistanceforsomeindividualstoaccessalternativeshortbreakserviceswasincludedintheMemberbriefingpaperthatwasavailableontheconsultationwebpage. Thesubjectwasalsodiscussedextensivelyinthestakeholdergroupmeetingsandinthepresentationanditwasexplainedthatsupportmaybeavailableifthisisanissueforindividuals.

c) QuestionswereraisedrelatingtothelackofinvestmentintheOsborneCourtbuilding.TherewasinformationrelatingtothefabricoftheOsborneCourtbuildingandthefacilitiesavailableinternally. ThespecificamountspentonthebuildinghadnotbeenincludedinthefinalreportsandsowassharedwithFavershamHealthMatters.

d) InadditionwereceivedfeedbackandcommentsfromtheFavershamSwaleEastLabourParty.Thekeythemesasfollows:

Concern that the publicconsultationreport didnotincludesufficientinformationregardingthereasonsforyoungpeopleintransitionnotaccessingadultshortbreaks.

ThedetailedinformationwasincludedintheMemberbriefingpaper,howevertherewerethreekeyreasonsincludedinthepublicconsultationreportthatwere:1.Changeinaspirations,2.Qualityofthebuildingsresources,3.Disparitybetweenchildren’sadultsbuildings.

ConcernthattheaccesstoandfromAshfordfortheusersofOsborneCourtandtheirfamiliesisbothbeyondthedistanceandtimethatpeoplearewillingtotravel.

Astatementregardingthepossibleimpactoftheproposal,ifagreed,inthatitmayresultinachangeindistanceforsomeindividualstoaccessalternative

shortbreakserviceswasincludedintheMemberbriefingpaperthatwasavailableontheconsultationwebpage.

ConcernregardingthenewmodelofferingamorerobustmodelinthemarketplaceandfearthattheproposalwillleaveKCCmoreexposedtotheexigenciesofthemarketplacewhilealsolosinganothersourceofin-houseexpertise.

Itwasexplainedatthegroupconsultationmeetingsandpresentationsthatoneofthemainreasonsforproposingthenewmodelistoensurethesustainabilityofthein-houseaccommodationbasedshortbreakservices. Therearenoplans to outsource the services and so by consolidating what we have,investinginthestockandtheexpertiseoftheworkforceweareprotectingourin-houseservicesaswellasmakingsurewehaveaplaceinthewidermarket.

AfulllistoftheFrequentlyAskedQuestionsisincludedwiththebackgrounddocumentstothisreport.

4.YouSaid–WeDid

Anumberofissuesaroseduringtheconsultationperiodandthishasresultedinachangetotheoriginalproposals.

a)ThecapitalinvestmentinSouthfields,Ashford

IthadbeenexplainedintheinitialconsultationdocumentsthattheproposalwastoinvestinSouthfieldstoaccommodatethemovefromOsborneCourt.Thereasonforthiswasthatcapitalfundinghadtobesecuredagainstanamedbuilding/siteandfollowingadvicefromtheCouncil’sPropertyandInfrastructuredivision,Southfieldswasidentifiedasthenamedsite. AlthoughthecapitalfundingwaspredicatedagainstSouthfieldsinrealitythefundingwillneedtofollowtheserviceusersandtheirpreferencesacrosstheremainingfourservices. Dependingontheoutcomeoftheproposaladecisionwillbemadeastowherethecapitalfundingisspentandtowhatextentineachoftherelevantsitesuptothetotalfundingsecured.

b)Concern regardingthe number of additionalservice users accessing

Southfields

Itwasnotmadeclearintheconsultationdocumentsthattherewereotheroptionsastowherethecapitalfundingcouldbespent,asaresultstakeholdersweremoreconcernedaboutthelevelofoccupancyplannedforSouthfieldsthanneededtobe. Inhindsightthiscouldhaveavoidedthisifthisdetailhadbeenincludedinthedocumentation.

c)Concern regardingadditionalcapacity for individualstoaccess shortbreaksinexternallyprovidedaccommodationbasedshortbreakserviceslocallytowheretheylive

DiscussionsareunderwaywithcolleaguesintheCouncil’sstrategiccommissioning division to scope out the possibility of setting up a blockcontract(whichwouldguaranteeasetnumberofshortbreakbeds/nightsperyear)withalocalprovider. Thisprocesswouldneedtofollowprocurementguidelines.

d)Opportunitiesforco-productionacrossthefourremainingservices

Therewereanumberoffamilycarersandorganisationswhowereinterestedintheopportunitytobecomemoreinvolvedintheservicesweprovide. Co-productionissomethingthathadbeentalkedaboutduringtheassessmentanddesignphaseoftheproject. Sufficientdetailregardingthesepositiveopportunitieswasnotincludedintheconsultationdocuments. Thisapproachwillcertainlybetakenasanintegralpartofourshortbreaksmodel.

e)ThelandvalueatOsborneCourtandrelatedproposal

ThereasonsforOsborneCourtbeingidentifiedastheproposedsitetocloseareexplainedextensivelyinalltheconsultationpaperwork. Howeverthelandvalueswerenotincluded,whichinhindsightwouldhavebeenusefulininformingstakeholdersthatOsborneCourtisnotidentifiedbytheCouncil’sPropertyandInfrastructureasthesitewiththehighestvalue

5.EqualityImpactAssessment

5.1AnEqualityImpactAssessmenthasbeencompletedandisincludedwiththebackgrounddocumentstothisreport.

6.FinancialImplications

6.1Thecurrentbudgetfortheservicewillbereallocatedtotherelevantservices,thecostofwhichwillbeknownonceservicesaresecured.Theremaybeassociatedcostsrelatingtoredundancyandretirementwhichwillbeknownfollowing the formal staff consultation period, plus efficiencies from thereductionofoneshortbreakbuilding.

7.LegalImplications

7.1TheCountyCouncilhasastatutoryresponsibilitytosupportcarersandthepersontheycarefor,withoneareaofprovisionbeingaccommodationbasedshortbreaks.

8.Conclusion

8.1Themajorityofconsulteesdidnotdisagreewiththeproposedfuturemodel.

Thereisanunderstandingthatthefactsareclearconcerninglowoccupancy,buildingstockandvalueformoney. InthecurrentfinancialclimateandinordertocreatesustainabilityfortheservicesthereneedstobefocusedinvestmentinasmallernumberofbuildingstoensuretheCouncilcontinuestoprovidethemuchneededrespitetofamilycarersthatsupportsboththepersontheycareforandthemselves.

8.2Theconcernduringtheconsultationwasfocusedaroundtheproposedclosureofoneofthebuildingsandtheimpactontheserviceusers,familycarers,staffandlocalcommunity. Asaresultoffeedbackandcommentsreceived,appropriatechangeshavebeenmadetotheoriginalproposals.

8.3Theproposalswillimpactonthekeystakeholdersinvolvedandanumberofkeyareasofthebusiness;thesewillbemitigatedasfollows.

8.3.1Serviceusersandfamilycarers–All58servicesusersandtheirfamilycarerswhocurrentlyaccessOsborneCourthavebeencontactedand93%havemettodiscusstheirindividualcircumstanceswithus. Theoutcomeofwhichisdetailedin3.1.7above. Theirchosenalternativeserviceshavebeenidentifiedandwillnotseeareductionintheamountofrespiteeachpersonreceives. TheTransitionPilotbetweenchildren’sandadultsshortbreaksisunderwayandisshowingsignsofsuccess. Thiswillberolledoutacrossallservicesandwillopenupfurtheropportunitiesforyoungpeoplewithdisabilities. Thereareanumberoffamilycarerswhohavelookedintoalternativeoptionsthattheyhadn’tpreviouslybeenawareofandfeelwillbemoresuitableforthepersonthey care for and have made arrangements to move to these alternativeservicespriortotheoutcomeoftheproposal.

8.3.2StaffTeam–ThemessagestostaffthroughouttheconsultationprocesshavebeenincrediblypositiveandfocusedontheretentionofthestaffemployedatOsborneCourtstatingthattheplansinvolvednoreductioninroles. Thefocushasbeenonexploringoptionsforsimilaroralternativerolesforstaffacrossothershortbreakfacilitiesandtheseconversationshavebeenmanagedatalocallevel. Thisissothatstaffareawareoftheopportunitiesthatareavailableacrossthewiderserviceareainordertoreassurestaffduringtheperiodofuncertaintyandencouragetheretentionofstaff. Iftheproposalgoesaheadafurther30dayformalconsultationwilltakeplacewiththestaffduringOctober/November2016.

8.3.3Building/Site–IfthedecisionismadetogoaheadwiththeclosureofOsborneCourtthebuildingandsitewillremainopenforaslongasrequiredtosupportthe transition of service users and staff to alternative services. The siteincludingthebuildingwillthenbehandedbacktotheLandlord(KCCPropertyandInfrastructureDivision). Therehasbeenan‘AssetofNominationRequest’made on the Osborne Court and Faversham Day Service site to SwaleBoroughCouncil,theoutcomeofwhichwillbedeterminedwhentheCouncildecidethefutureofthevacantsite.

8.3.4FinancialCapital-Thecapitalinvestmentof£504kinitiallypredicatedagainstSouthfieldsinAshfordwillbereviewedandinvestedappropriatelytoenhancethefacilitiesattherespectivesitesthatindividualsandfamilycarershavechosenastheiralternativeshortbreakservice,thereforesupportingthesustainabilityofthesites. Serviceusersandfamilycarerswillbeinvolvedincoproducingthesechangesgoingforward.

8.3.5Revenue–ApercentageoftheOsborneCourtrevenuebudgetwillbeallocatedacrosstheremainingfourKCCaccommodationbasedshortbreakunitsattheappropriateproportionforthenumberofadditionalserviceusersaccessingthoseservicesandthelevelofdependencyoftheindividuals.

8.4ThroughouttheconsultationtheCouncilhaslistenedtotheviewsandfeedbackofallthestakeholders.Weunderstandthatchangeisverydifficultforeveryoneandparticularlyforthosewhoaccesstheservice,theirfamilycarersandthestaffteam. Inordertoensurewesupportthesekeypeopleaffectedbytheproposalwehavemadetherelatedchangestotheoriginalproposal.

8.5Westronglybelieve,andthefeedbackfromthemajorityofthosewehavespoken to agree, that the positive changes the proposed future model ofservicewillensuretheaccommodationbasedshortbreakservicesarefitforpurposeandfitforthefutureandwillthereforebesustainableandcontinuetobeavitalservicetofamilycarers.

9.Recommendations

9.1Recommendations: TheCabinetMemberforAdultSocialCareand

PublicHealthisaskedto

a)PROCEEDwiththeAccommodationBasedShortBreakModel

b)ENDserviceprovisionfromOsborneCourt andidentifyalternativeservicesforthe58serviceusersandfamilycarersandcloseOsborneCourt.

c)DELEGATEauthoritytotheCorporateDirectorofSocialCare,HealthandWellbeing,orothernominatedofficer,toundertakethenecessaryactionstoimplementthedecision.

10BackgroundDocuments

ShortBreakServices–ProposedChangestoAccommodationBasedShort

BreakServicesforPeoplewithDisabilities–PublicConsultation7June–29

August.2016.

EqualityImpactAssessment–Theresatoaddlink

PressReleases–Theresatoaddlink

11.ContactDetails

ReportAuthor

SueMcGibbon

ChangeImplementationOfficer

03000415412

LeadDirector

PennySouthern

DirectorDisabledChildren,AdultLearningDisabilityandMentalHealth

03000415505