Issue - decisions

60.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

60.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1) Agree the proposal to cease the Council’s Community Support Service for adults living independently in the community in its current format;

2) Agree to re-model the way care and support is provided by the Council’s Learning Disability Directly Provided Service to tenants in the Council’s Learning Disability Supported Living Schemes;

3) Agree to establish a new community outreach provision to meet the care and support needs of adults living independently in the community, as a replacement for the existing Community Support Service; and

4) Delegate to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health authority to take all necessary actions to give effect to the above resolutions.

Reasons

60.3     The Council is required to set a balanced budget. The ‘State of the County’ report presented to Cabinet in June 2024 set out a projected £55m deficit on the 2025/26 budget. Savings proposals requiring public consultation that would help to close this gap were presented to Cabinet in September 2024.

60.4     The total savings proposals for the Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2025/26-2027/28 set out in November 2024 were £20.628m, across all Council departments. The Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) contribution to the savings total is £11.455m. In addition to these savings proposals, in order to achieve a balanced budget, the Council is also drawing on its financial reserves.

60.5     The original proposals put forward were designed to contribute to the savings required for the Council. It is clear from the contributions to the consultation that these proposals are not welcomed, with the vast majority of respondents disagreeing. All of the feedback from the consultation process has been considered in putting together the revised proposals set out in the report.

60.6     It is recognised that ceasing the provision of the Council’s Community Support Service (CSS) for adults living independently would cause an element of disruption for those involved and anxiety for the parent/carers involved. It has also become clear that the Personal Assistant market is not in a position to address the care and support needs of all of the adults accessing CSS support in the community. The establishment of a new community outreach service will provide these services instead.

60.7     Re-modelling supported living provision will improve the way that element of the service is delivered and therefore the experience of adults living in Supported Living settings. The remodelled support will improve the consistency of support adults receive and therefore the quality of their care. The remodelled service provision at the Council’s Learning Disability Supported Living Schemes means that all tenants’ care and support is provided by the accommodation-based staff.

60.8     Cabinet members have read and had regard to the Equalities Impact Assessment when making decisions related to this proposal.