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The Chief Officer submitted a report providing an update on the two day services for adults with learning difficulties operated by Capability Scotland, on behalf of the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), in Renfrewshire at Whitehaugh and West Lane Gardens, Paisley.
The report intimated that both these services were building-based and remained popular with current service users. In line with the Scottish Government’s Learning Disability Strategies ‘The Same as You’ and ‘Keys to Life’, Renfrewshire learning disability day provision had over recent years managed a planned move away from these traditional centre-based services towards a more inclusive, community-based services approach. As part of this work, Renfrewshire Council, the former Community Health Partnership (CHP) and the HSCP had worked closely with Capability Scotland, who operated community-based service models elsewhere in Scotland, to explore all options for modernising these two day services.
In July 2017 Capability Scotland served formal notice to the HSCP Chief Officer on their intention to withdraw from their current contract on 20 October 2017, noting that the current service model had accrued significant annual financial deficits and was no longer seen by Capability Scotland to be financially viable going forward.
The Chief Officer had been working with the provider to discuss the continuation of this service within the terms of their contract and to explore a viable longer term alternative service model. Capability Scotland had re-stated their intention to cease provision of this service but had agreed it would continue until 31 January 2018 subject to the IJB meeting the financial shortfall the provider would incur during this period. This arrangement would ensure that the provider met their contractual requirement to minimally provide six months notice and would allow the HSCP sufficient time to ensure a smooth, managed transition for service users.
The report further intimated that the Chief Officer, in liaison with the Chair and Vice Chair of the IJB, would continue discussions with local service users, carers and Renfrewshire Council to quickly explore if Capability Scotland could develop an alternative service model in Renfrewshire which was financially viable in line with national policy direction and in a way that met the needs of our service users; progress planning to extend the existing HSCP community network services that would meet the needs of many of the Capability Scotland day centre users; and ensure smooth, managed transition arrangements were in place in advance of 31 January 2018 to support each service user to decide how they wanted to use their personal directed support budget to secure alternative services.
In light of concerns raised by service users and carers, a special meeting of Renfrewshire Council had been held on 30 August 2017 to discuss Capability Scotland’s decision to withdraw from their current contract. The Head of Corporate Governance, Renfrewshire Council, had written to the Chief Officer advising him of the motion approved unanimously at the meeting and asking that he consider the terms of the Council’s decision and how this would be taken forward by Renfrewshire HSCP. A copy of this letter formed the appendix to the report.
It was proposed that the Chief Officer and Chief Finance Officer revisit the IJB finances and reserves to ensure individual service users received the maximum level of support they required; that the Chief Officer submit a report to the next meeting of the IJB outlining a strategy for the IJB to have in place a needs-led commissioning plan involving carers and that the strategy used language that was easily understandable to service users and their carers; and that the Chief Officer submit a report to the next meeting of the IJB relative to the future use of West Lane Gardens. This was agreed.
Councillor Kerr being the mover of an amendment which failed to find a seconder requested that his dissent be recorded.
DECIDED:
(a) That Capability Scotland’s intention to cease their current contract on 31 January 2018; the local and national factors which had led to Capability Scotland’s view that their current service model was no longer proving financially viable, and how this had been received by its service users and carers be noted;
(b) That it be agreed that Renfrewshire IJB would meet the £34,500 cost shortfall identified by Capability Scotland to enable Capability Scotland to continue its current contract with the Council until 31 January 2018;
(c) That it be agreed that the Chief Officer, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the IJB, would quickly progress discussions to explore if Capability Scotland could develop an alternative community-based service model in Renfrewshire;
(d) That it be agreed that Renfrewshire HSCP would progress plans to extend the existing HSCP Learning Disability Community Network Service should Capability Scotland not be able to provide such a model that was affordable and deliverable by 31 January 2018;
(e) That it be noted that work would continue to ensure planned transition arrangements were in place as soon as possible that were person-centred and which fully reflected the needs of service users;
(f) That Renfrewshire Council’s position on Capability Scotland’s decision to end their current contract, formally agreed at the special meeting of Renfrewshire Council held on 30 August 2017, be noted;
(g) That it be agreed that the Chief Officer write to Renfrewshire Council on behalf of the IJB to formally note their position and next steps;
(h) That the Chief Officer and Chief Finance Officer revisit the IJB finances and reserves to ensure individual service users received the appropriate level of support they required; and
(i) That the Chief Officer submit a report to the next meeting of the IJB outlining a strategy for the IJB to have in place a needs-led commissioning plan involving carers and that the strategy used language that was easily understandable to service users and their carers and the future use of West Lane Gardens.