Agenda item

To provide an update on the current status of the Day Opportunities Strategy Project.

The Commissioning Manager – Day Opportunities presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee received an update on the current status of the Day Opportunities Strategy Project.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query regarding the person’s journey, the Committee was advised impact statements had been collected as part of the consultation, in addition to specifically engaging with all the services and individuals about their needs and wishes and the impact any changes on services would have.
• In response to a query regarding heat mapping service users and the service provision, the Committee was advised of the analysis work detailed in the data and needs analysis report and the results that had shown.
• In response to a concern regarding the proposals and lack of consultation, particularly with People First, the Committee was advised of upcoming coproduction meeting planned for 24 January 2024, with any feedback from that being collated as part of the consultation. 
• It was highlighted that the proposals were financially driven and that it had been made clear that individual assessments of the eight provisions would be undertaken with individual decisions regarding their future.
• In response to a concern that the consultation link was not working for some of the time, it was clarified that the link to the easy read elements was working however a request for that to be more prominent on the page resulted in the new link not working for a couple of days.
• A Committee Member expressed concern over the proposed closure of the specialist dementia unit, Moordown plus and the potential negative impact that could have on its clients.
• In response to a concern about communications in the consultation and the difference between what the consultation asked with the two proposals, instead of each service being considered individually, the Committee was advised that the strategy was very clear that day service buildings were required, however more of the available budget needed to be balanced to offer more community provision offering a greater choice of service to clients.  It was noted that buildings would be community hubs and could potentially be used by community groups to maximise use.
• In response to a concern regarding requiring micro providers to follow a standard of operation, the Committee was advised that the standards of Day Opportunities would be coproduced.  It was highlighted that day service provision had no regulating body and it was hoped that these standards would ensure an appropriate level of service was provided across the day opportunities services to provide positive outcomes for clients.
• It was confirmed that the reference in the report to Highcliffe Plus referred to the provision at Christchurch Connect and the Committee was advised of the discussions around the building which previously hosted Highcliffe Plus.

It was Proposed and Seconded to add a c) to the recommendation as follows:

c) to allow further period of consultation to enable the people first group to engage fully with their members and bring their views back to the Co production group.

The Committee considered the recommendation including discussing the response rates to the public consultation and how it was linked in with the budget setting process and it was decided that the proposed recommendation be withdrawn, but that People First were contacted to advise them of the latest date that any further submissions could be sent it to be included in the formal consultation response and that an invitation be sent to them to attend the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 March to provide the Committee with their feedback on the proposals.  ACTION. 

Following the further discussions, the additional recommendation was withdrawn subject to the action discussed being completed.

RECOMMENDED that the

a)    Committee review the draft Day Opportunities Strategy for any comment;

b)    Committee are aware of the current Day Opportunities Strategy public consultation and proposals for future Tricuro day service provision, for subsequent review in March 2024.

Voting: Unanimous