1 Summary

The following decision is sought.

1.1 That the Executive Member supports the integration of residential respite care for people with learning disabilities in the Eastleigh area, subject to appropriate further approvals concerning capital funding.

2 Reason(s)

2.1 The purpose of integrating local residential respite provision in the Eastleigh area as proposed is to improve the delivery of services to people with learning disabilities and their parents/carers.

This supports AIM 1: Protecting and caring for vulnerable people/supporting parents and carers.

and AIM 5: Improving services.

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 It was not feasible to extend the existing Social Services respite unit at Highfield House.

3.2 The respite unit at Totton lacked the capacity to fully meet the needed reprovision and was not acceptable to parent carers.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

Not Applicable

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

1 Summary (Executive or Introductory)

This report seeks the support of the Executive Member for the integration of Social Services and Health residential respite services for adults with learning disabilities in the Eastleigh Area, subject to appropriate approvals concerning capital matters.

2 Background

2.1 As part of the Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust reprovision of Locally Based Hospital Units (LBHU), Bishopstoke House at Bishopstoke is to close. For many years Bishopstoke House has provided two beds for respite for a small group of service users. When the LBHU is re-provided under the proposed changes, there will be a need to also re-provide these respite places.

2.2 The number of service users is currently five, but all have a high dependency and cannot be simply transferred to the local Social Services respite care unit, Highfield House, because their physical needs can not be accommodated there. Their parents are reluctant to make use of an alternative facility (Jacobs Lodge) in Totton. In any case the addition of these users to the Jacobs Lodge lists would put an undue strain on that unit's capacity.

2.3 It is therefore proposed to merge the existing Bishopstoke provision with the Social Services provision at Highfield House, by building a new, purpose built Unit capable of meeting the needs of people with high physical dependency . The Unit will comprise 6 beds, one of which will be held in reserve for emergencies.

2.4 This will resolve the current situation and provide modern, accessible, respite facilities for the future.

3 Progress to date

3.1 A group of stakeholders, including a carer representative have examined a number of alternatives to determine the most appropriate arrangements for local respite reprovision.

The Options Considered were:

a) The use of Jacob's Lodge, Totton

b) The extension of the accommodation at Highfield House, Bishopstoke

c) Building a new purpose designed unit that could include high support needs

3.2 Having considered appraisals for each of the three options, it has been agreed that the most appropriate would be a new single storey building. It is proposed that this would be provided on a site to be transferred to the County Council by the Eastleigh & Test Valley South PCT and funded jointly by Social Services and local Health Trusts, by recycling and pooling existing resources. These resources would include the re-investment of proceeds from the resulting sale of Highfield House.

3.3 Assessments of the current service users have been carried out and support the view that their needs could be best met in the way proposed. Service users and their parents have been consulted over the proposals and will continue to be involved in the planning process.

3.4 The operational staff of both existing services have been briefed by local Managers.

4. Future Actions

4.1 The proposed new respite unit has been included in the draft West Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust business case for the LBHU reprovision, subject to the County Council's agreement.

4.2 The revenue and staffing costs from the Bishopstoke House respite service will be transferred to Social Services, who will recruit the additional staff required for the new unit.

4.3 No staff transfer arrangements are required and there should be no additional revenue costs for Social Services to meet.

4.4 The cost of building and furnishing the new unit has been estimated to be £525,000, at current building costs, and based on the minimum requirements of the National Care Standards for residential adult care. It is proposed that a report on the related property proposals be presented to the Executive Member Policy and Resources in due course.

4.5 The design and construction of the proposed new unit will be overseen by the County Council's Property Business and Regulatory Directorate.

4.6 The timescale for completion of the project included in the Partnership Trust's Business Case envisages the proposed new unit becoming operational in January 2006.

5 Conclusion

5.1 The proposed integration of the existing two respite units will provide Social Services with greatly improved facilities and a slightly increased capacity locally to meet the needs of users of this vital support service.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That the Executive Member approves the proposed integration of residential respite care for people with learning disabilities in the Eastleigh area, subject to appropriate further approvals concerning capital funding and property matters.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

None