The Learning Difficulties Service Improvement Programme is overseeing the modernisation of our Learning Difficulties day services. A full programme of engagement and consultation has taken place around the re-provision of services at Kingswood and Blackhorse Resource and Activity Centres (RACs). Option C was proposed and implementation commenced in October 2008.
62 service users attending Kingswood RAC were given an assessment of need and a programme of activities was developed. Kingswood RAC closed on 27 March 2009. 13 people who were assessed as needing part of their service provision to be building-based transferred to Blackhorse Day Service whilst a new building in Kingswood is constructed.
A programme of reviews of the services set up for the Kingswood service users has commenced and should be completed by early 2010.
Our plan for assessing the remaining people has been revised slightly. Our next service user group to be assessed will be those that attend the Chipping Sodbury Day Centre. Social Workers will be working with health colleagues to assess people jointly. From about March we will then be assessing those people that live in residential homes and attend Turnberrie’s Community Centre. This is in line with our policy for residential homes to be responsible for organising day opportunities for their residents. Finally the remaining people attending the Blackhorse Day Service will be assessed and it is projected that all assessments will be completed by November 2010. Reviews of new services are planned to take place 6-8 weeks after new services are set up.
In the meantime the staff at Blackhorse will be developing new, interesting and challenging activities for people in line with our modernisation programme. This will form a new model of service delivery for those service users who will remain with our service. The aim of the service will be to enable individuals to gain the skills that will help them to be active participants in their community.
The themes in current national and local guidance on developing effective services for people with learning difficulties such as those in ‘Valuing People Now’ and ‘From Care to Citizenship’ will form the basis for future service developments.. A strong emphasis has been placed on making employment and community activities accessible to people with learning difficulties. While there is also more emphasis on individualised budgets and choice, these will be within the parameters of guidance and relevant legislation. As such much more time and energy will be put into overcoming the barriers to employment and creating the necessary support systems to make this an achievable goal, with the necessary support, for many more people.
The closure of Blackhorse Day Service is now planned to follow the completion of the new building in Kingswood. It is anticipated the new building will be ready in the autumn of 2011.
This will not affect the development of the new service model which is not dependent on the new building and will commence for individuals as soon as their assessments are completed.
The following related documents are available to view or download from the 'read more' section on this page.
- options consultation document
- proposed executive decision
- day service re-provision consultation plan
- appendix 1 - summary of engagement responses
- appendix 2 - engagement report
- appendix 3 - Staff
- day services improvement options report
- re-provision proposals - report to Cabinet