Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Social Care, Adult and Children’s Services (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s agreement to enter into a consultation exercise on the future of in-house services.

RESOLVED Cabinet agrees that  –

(a)       in accordance with the appropriate statutory framework there be consultation with each individual service user and their family in respect of the proposals referred to in the report to include an assessment of their needs and the availability of suitable alternative provision to meet those needs;

(b)       there be a wider public consultation exercise on the future modernisation of social services;

(c)        a report/reports on the results of the consultations referred to in (a) and (b) above be presented to the Task and Finish Group prior to it being presented to Cabinet with an options appraisal for each of the services, and

(d)       Cabinet confirms that no individual service user will be moved unless suitable alternative provision is identified.

Councillor Bobby Feeley presented the report seeking Cabinet’s agreement to enter into a consultation exercise on the future of in-house social care services.  She provided some context to the report highlighting the requirements of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act and impact of the significant budget cuts.

A Members’ Task and Finish Group had been established to examine the financial sustainability of the Council’s in-house social care services and their recommendation to outsource services and save £700k had been agreed as part of the budget setting process.  To progress that work a consultation exercise, including equality impact assessments, needed to be undertaken.  Much attention had focused on the proposal to close the three existing residential care homes and assurances were provided at the outset that they would not be closed if there were residents whose needs could not be met in alternative provision. Councillor Feeley was also keen to highlight the quality of provision in the private sector which had been subject to some unfair publicity advising that nearly 90% of care home placements funded by the Council were in private sector homes.

Cabinet referred to the impact that closing the care homes would have on their residents, families and wider communities. Members were keen to explore the possibility of alternatives, such as extra care housing schemes together with enhanced care packages allowing people to live at home independently for longer, but highlighted the need to consider whether the needs of both existing and future service users could be met within their current localities if proposals went ahead.  Such provision was greater in more populated areas of the county but lacking in the South, particularly in the Corwen area and the need to consider Welsh Language provision when undertaking individuals’ impact assessments was also highlighted.  Officers elaborated upon progress in developing alternative provision in particular areas together with the consultation process which would involve meeting with care home residents and their families to explain how services could be provided and gather their view on any changes.  An impact assessment for those affected would be carried out which would include Welsh Language provision.  Members felt there would be merit in the Task and Finish Group considering the consultation results prior to the matter being reported back to Cabinet in April/May 2015.

Councillor Ray Bartley highlighted the need for wider public consultation which prompted a lengthy debate about the nature of the consultation to be undertaken in terms of canvassing views and meeting specific needs of current service users and the wider debate on future modernisation of social care services.  It was generally accepted that two separate consultations were required.  The need for effective communication with service users, their families and staff was also highlighted together with appropriate press management.  Councillor Cefyn Williams stressed that Cysgod y Gaer was an important part of the local community which had already been subject to school closures and reduced facilities and he was concerned that suitable alternative provision meant a move out of the area for local residents. 

Cabinet considered there was a need to amend the recommendations in light of the debate and it was subsequently –

RESOLVED Cabinet agrees that  –

(a)       in accordance with the appropriate statutory framework there be consultation with each individual service user and their family in respect of the proposals referred to in the report to include an assessment of their needs and the availability of suitable alternative provision to meet those needs;

(b)       there be a wider public consultation exercise on the future modernisation of social services;

(c)        a report/reports on the results of the consultations referred to in (a) and (b) above be presented to the Task and Finish Group prior to it being presented to Cabinet with an options appraisal for each of the services, and

(d)       Cabinet confirms that no individual service user will be moved unless suitable alternative provision is identified.