Agenda item

Consider report by Chief Officer, Health and Social Care (copy attached).

5.1       There had been circulated copies of a report by the Chief Officer, Health & Social Care outlining the progress made in delivering a Re-imagined Day Service for Older Adults and seeking approval for the decommissioning of individual day services, although only when suitable alternatives that met assessed needs were identified, based upon the introduction of the new model of Local Area Co-ordination for older adults.  In his introduction to the report Robert McCulloch-Graham, Chief Officer, Health & Social Care, explained that, despite significant increases in the numbers of older people living in our communities and accessing Social Care Services, the volume of clients using Day Services had reduced in number from 240 in 2014/15 to 43 in 2019.  There has been a corresponding increase in people taking a direct payment to be supported to take part in activities of more interest to them and in their own communities.The Scottish Borders Health & Social Care Partnership strategic plan gave a focus on providing more access to opportunities and activities within our communities. This was being delivered by Local Area Co-ordinators providing access for the frail and elderly to a wider range of community services and support provision beyond traditional day centres catering solely for elderly people. This provision was bringing our older people back into our communities and maintaining the right to a community life. Social Workers would work alongside the Local Area Co-ordination team to ensure that clients’ long term care needs and carers’ respite needs were adequately met.  The 2017-18 Financial Plan approved by Scottish Borders Council on 9 February 2017 outlined efficiencies and the need to “review current Day Services and staffing models”.  This was re-affirmed in the 2018-19 Financial Plan. This modernised approach aimed to provide better services focussed on the needs of individual people whilst also providing greater efficiency.  Initial Local Area Co-ordination work in the Berwickshire area successfully developed community based alternatives for clients attending Saltgreens Day Service.  This approach would be utilised across the whole of the Borders. Appendix 1 to the report showed indicative timescales for Day Service transformation across the remaining localities. 

5.2       In the ensuing discussion Members expressed their support in principle for the proposals. In noting the increase in uptake of Self Directed Support they recognised that the Local Area Co-ordination approach gave people more choice and had the potential of achieving better outcomes.  However the importance of continuing to provide respite for carers was emphasised.  Discussion continued about the need for effective communications.  Mr McCulloch-Graham confirmed that every service user had been contacted about the proposals, with communication to those without capacity being through relatives/carers.  In response to questions about the services and community based alternatives identified in each locality it was agreed to re-circulate to Members the briefings that were issued in March.   It was noted that for a small number of people whose needs were so complex that they could not benefit from community based support, appropriate alternatives would be developed.

DECISION

(a)        NOTED the expansion of Local Area Co-ordination to all areas of the Scottish Borders; and

(b)          AGREED:-

(i)         to the decommissioning of individual Day Services when suitable alternatives that met assessed needs were identified following the introduction of the new model of Local Area Co-ordination for older adults; and

(ii)        that the Day Service Transformation individual locality briefings be re-circulated to Members.