The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Commissioning [South] considered a report from the Director of Adult Services on Supported Living and Day Care Services for people with a learning disability in Bridgnorth.

This report summarised the outcomes of recent consultation with adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers in Bridgnorth and confirmed the next steps in the development of supported living, relocation of the day centre and the delivery of day services.

Shropshire Council have undertaken a consultation process with people with a learning disability, their families and carers who attend day opportunities at Oak Farm at Ditton Priors and Innage Lane in Bridgnorth.

The consultation was on the following options:

·         Identifying land or buildings in South East Shropshire which could be used as supported living for people with a learning disability. 

·         Using the Innage Lane building as a supported living house closing the day service there and relocating the day service to the Youth Centre.

·         Making better use of council buildings by using the present Youth Centre building for day services as well as the existing evening use.

·         Outsourcing Innage Lane day opportunity wherever it is located to another provider, possibly in conjunction with the service at Oak Farm.

RESOLVED:

i)             That a new provider is commissioned to deliver the day opportunities service at both Innage Lane and Oak Farm and that this commissioning process commences in January 2016.

ii)            That an options appraisal is undertaken to determine the opportunities for the Youth Centre, the options appraisal to include:

1.    Investment of capital into the Youth Centre to bring the premise up to the standard of Innage Lane Day Centre.

2.    To explore development opportunities of the Youth Centre site to include the development of supported living accommodation, housing and a community resource for use by youth groups, day service users and the wider community.

3.    Further analysis and costs related to a potential Community Asset Transfer (CAT) of the Youth Centre building to Bridgnorth Town Council.

iii)           Once the results of the options appraisal at ii) above have been completed and reviewed, additional engagement with user groups will be required.

Reasons for decision:

During the consultation process a number of concerns were raised regarding the suitability of the Youth Centre for day service use. Additionally suggestions were also proposed as to how the Youth Centre site could potentially be developed. The decision to undertake an options appraisal will determine this.

In relation to commissioning a new Provider to deliver this day service at Innage Lane and Oak Farm, this is an approach being taken across day services currently provided by the Council and is consistent with Shropshire Council’s intention to become a Commissioning Council.