Issue - meetings

Further to Minute No. 65 of the meeting held on 26 February 2015, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Older People which provided an update on the outcome of the targeted consultation with users, carers and all interested parties of Chase Heys Day Centre (not the intermediate care and respite unit) and sought approval for associated planned activity

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the previous decisions on remodelling day centres (closures and modernisation) made at the Cabinet meeting on 26 February 2015 and the intention to engage further with the users and all interested parties of the Chase Heys Day Centre be noted;

(2)       it be noted that the detail within the consultation feedback in respect of the proposed closure of Chase Heys day centre together with the Public Sector Equality Duty analysis had been considered and taken into account;

(3)       the closure of Chase Heys Day Centre, excluding the intermediate care and respite unit be approved and officers be authorised to complete the closure immediately; and

(4)       the mitigating and phasing factors as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

In February 2013, the Council approved a proposal to remodel day opportunities so that in the future, opportunities would be shaped by how best to meet assessed eligible needs and made more appropriate to people who use them. A report and recommendation for a programme of closures and modernisation to the current New Direction’s Day Centres was submitted to the Cabinet on 26February 2015 and approval was given to the recommendations. Further consideration and consultation was to be made to the proposed closure of Chase Heys, as this centre was not on the original recommendations for closure.

The recommendation in this report to close Chase Heys had been developed by taking account the current understanding of assessed needs, forecast demographic changes, current and forecast usage rates and the usability and sustainability of all of the New Directions day centres in Sefton. 

In addition, the Council had significant existing responsibilities for Adult Social Care and invested considerable resources (£92 million per annum) into services to support a wide range of needs for adults. The Adult Social Care Change (ASC) Programme’s overall aim was to develop a model for Sefton Council’s Adult Social Care that was sustainable, modern and flexible, delivering the four strategic priorities as set out in the ASC Strategic plan 2013-20 as approved in November 2013, and the delivery of the changes associated with the Care Act 2014.

In developing future plans against a background of reducing resources the core purpose of the Council was assumed to be

•      Protect the most vulnerable i.e. those people who have complex care needs with no capacity to care for themselves and no other networks to support them.

•      Commission and provide core services which meet the defined needs of communities and which are not and cannot be duplicated elsewhere.

•      Enable/facilitate economic prosperity i.e. maximise the potential for people within Sefton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7