Contact: Derek Oliver 01962 847294 email [email protected]

1. Summary:

1.1 The following decision is sought:-

a. That approval be given by the Executive Member for Merryfield to be declared surplus to adult services requirements.

b. That the Executive Member, agree that recommendation that site is placed up for disposal with Property Business and Regulation Services.

c. That the Executive Member supports a recommendation to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the capital receipt from the sale of the site is used to fund essential fire safety work within Adult Services residential home portfolio.

d. That the Executive Member supports a recommendation to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that any remaining balance of the capital receipt to be invested within the emerging Adult Learning Disability Strategy, to contribute to the modernisation of day services subject to a separate paper being prepared.

e. That partnerships are established locally with Housing providers and the District Council to exploit opportunities to set up better housing options to meet the needs of the population, retaining a focus in the locality and by implication meet LPSA2 Housing targets, through relevant partnerships and through Hampshire Action Teams

2. Reason

2.1 This report relates to the community strategy in that it supports the aims of maximising well-being,

Aim 1: By developing other housing options and day time opportunities for people.

Aim 2: By providing services at times and in environments' that the individual and family choose maximising independence.

Aim3: By developing partnerships are with key Stakeholders.

3. Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 Re-providing the service in the same building.

3.2 Re-provisioning on the same site.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted

None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

None

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

Not applicable

Approved by: ........................................... Date: ................

Councillor Patricia Banks

Executive Member for Adult Social Care

Contact: Derek Oliver 01962 847294 email [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The purpose of this paper is to seek a decision on the future of the building which was previously, a five bedded Residential Service for Adults with a Learning Disability, sell the property and then re-invest the capital from the sale in essential fire safety works and developing services for Adults with Learning Disabilities across Hampshire in line with the Strategy Document "Services for People with a Learning Disability in Hampshire"

1.2 It sets out the reasons why the building is currently empty

1.3 This report relates to the community strategy in that it supports the aims of maximising well-being:-

Aim 1: By developing other housing options and day time opportunities for people.

Aim 2: By providing services at times and in environments' that the individual and family choose maximising independence.

Aim3: By developing partnerships are with key Stakeholders.

2. Impact Assessment

2.1 In compiling this report account has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme.

2.2 Merryfield did not effectively meet the needs of people with a learning disability, especially those from black and minority ethnic communities. The location is remote and adequate support is difficult to sustain. Future services developed as a consequence of this closure will fit within the broad strategy for learning disability set out in the current service plan.

3. Consultation with Local Members

3.1 Consultation has taken place with local Borough and County Councillors representing the catchments area of the service.

4. Introduction

4.1 Merryfield is a five bedded, residential home for Adults with a Learning Disability owned by Hampshire County Council. It is located just outside the village of Liss a few miles from Petersfield. It was formerly a children's home owned by Hampshire County Council. Eight years ago its purpose changed and it was identified as a suitable home for five people who were living at Coldeast Hospital - a large Health Authority Hospital for Adults with a Learning Disability.

4.2 Four people moved out of Merryfield in January 2006. The reasons for this were set out in the Executive Member- Adult Social Care Report, presented 9 December 2005. (one person had already moved out in April 2005) A period of three months consultation took place with Members, staff and other key stakeholders to ascertain the future of the service between 1 May 2006 and 31 July 2006.

4.3 The home at time of temporary closure accommodated four people with a learning disability. There were three male residents and one female. One of the male residents was the funding responsibility of Portsmouth Social Services Department and the then remaining three were and remain funded via a Section 28a agreement. All have been placed in other local residential services. Further details were set out in the report presented to Adult Social Care Executive Member 9 December 2005.

4.4 Strong care management support has been provided to service users who moved out ensuring that their needs were appropriately met. The delay for the formal declaration of Merryfield as a building being surplus to requirements was to ensure that residents users were appropriately settled in their new homes, which could only be identified following their individual 28 day review, and to establish that Merryfield could not be used as a future learning disability resource.

4.5 At the time of temporary relocation in January 2006, seven FTE staff were employed at Merryfield. They were temporarily relocated to other posts within units pending formal consultation about the future of Merryfield. Of the six staff who have remained working for Hampshire County Council 4 have now successfully transferred into alternative substantive posts.

4.6 The annual net base budget for 2005/06 was £79,000:-

Income Total -£162,049.61

Staffing Expenditure £216,059.47

Supplies & services £25050.33

Expenditure Total £241,109.80

The actual total cost of running Merryfield for the full year 05/06 would have been £270,000. Once lost income (£35,000) from one other local authority; additional costs incurred for 3 placements (£16,000) and security costs (£5,000) have been deducted, the net saving is £214,000.

By no longer providing a service at Merryfield and realigning the budget this has resulted in a revenue saving for 06/07 of £214,000

5. Rationale for declaring home surplus to requirements

5.1 The white paper "Valuing People: a new strategy for learning disability for the 21^st century" (March 2001 Department of Health) lays out the future vision for learning disability services. This vision reflected the direction of travel set out by Hampshire Social Services in "Changing for Choice" and the "1999-2004 Commissioning Plan". The key principles of Valuing People emphasise the importance of "Rights", "Choice", "Independence" and "Inclusion" for people with a learning disability and promote a model of citizenship and social inclusion. These key principles are reflected in other drivers and performance indicators, which seek to promote citizenship, social inclusion and choice.

6 Local Consultation

6.1 A consultation document was sent to local members, staff, housing associations, the local district Council and lead district council member for Housing in the area.

6.2 This set out the rationale for the future of Merryfield and disposal of the site and asked for views on the proposed closure. It proposed that the capital would be reinvested to support the further modernisation of services for people with a learning disability including housing partnerships.

6.3 The White Papers "Valuing People, A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21^st Century, 20 March 2001 & "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say a new direction for community services, 30 January 2006 are clear that Adult Service Department must support the opportunity to develop more appropriate services including local housing solutions with District Councils, developing partnerships and building on "Local Public Service Agreements" LPSA2 Targets for Housing. This could be through Partnership with Housing Associations and would provide the flexible support and housing that people with a learning disability and their families have consistently asked for.

6.4 Direct contact was made with stakeholders. There was support to close Merryfield, recognising that the needs of people could no longer be best met there and alternative support mechanisms were required. Local stakeholders were concerned that losing Merryfield would mean losing a valuable local resource for people with a learning disability and wished to raise the issues that consideration should be given to any capital released from any future sale of Merryfield be re-invested in the locality, ensuring that Liss and the local area did not suffer the detriment of services being removed.

6.5 The staff team who had been relocated felt that there were able to understand and accept the reason for the service user to move on and for it to be temporarily closed. They did express some concerns regarding the timescales in which this happened but have acknowledged that the service user moves were successful at that time.

7 Staffing cost analysis

7.1 It was agreed that the staff team would be offered temporary relocation, transfer into existing posts or replacement as part of the interim action whilst consultation and Executive Member approval was sort for closure.

7.2 All of the staff who were temporarily relocated to alternative posts have now achieved permanent employment in alternative substantive positions.

8 Capital Reinvestment

8.1 It is requested that a recommendation be made that 100% of the net capital receipt from the disposal of Merryfield be retained by the Adult Services Department to fund a programme of priority fire safety works in residential properties to be agreed with the Director of PB&RS, the balance being used as a contribution to pump-prime the modernisation of learning disability day services which itself could lead to the further generation of capital receipts.

8.2 The learning disability Residential portfolio will be subject to a review in light of efficiency savings proposed for 2007/2008. A scoping review will take place in the next 6 months, for implementation in 2007/2008.

9 Conclusion

9.1 Merryfield as a residential service is no longer able to meet the needs of people with a learning disability, is unoccupied, and economically unviable due to its isolation in the community and not being physically fit for purpose.

9.2 All of the service users who have left Merryfield have been successfully relocated in new homes and are experiencing new opportunities and an enhanced quality of life.

9.3 The reinvestment of capital in the way suggested in Section 8 will ensure that Adult Learning Disability services continue to address the competing demands of needs led service delivery, commissioning and provision against financial cost parameters.

Recommendations

1. That approval be given by the Executive Member for Merryfield to be declared surplus to adult services requirements.

2. That the Executive Member, agree that recommendation that site is placed up for disposal with Property Business and Regulation Services.

3. That the Executive Member supports a recommendation to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the capital receipt from the sale of the site is used to fund essential fire safety work within Adult Services residential home portfolio.

4. That the Executive Member supports a recommendation to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that any remaining balance of the capital receipt to be invested within the emerging Adult Learning Disability Strategy, to contribute to the modernisation of day services subject to a separate paper being prepared.

5. That partnerships are established locally with Housing providers and the District Council to exploit opportunities to set up better housing options to meet the needs of the population, retaining a focus in the locality and by implication meet LPSA2 Housing targets, through relevant partnerships and through Hampshire Action Teams

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