The city council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve the closure of four council-run day centres, with support provided at the remaining five centres within the city.
The city council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve the closure of four council-run day centres, with support provided at the remaining five centres within the city.
This follows a consultation on the future of the council-run centres and previous improvement work which came from an independent review of the centres, approved by the council’s Cabinet in April 2023.
The council faces a significant financial challenge and in February 2024 Cabinet agreed to a savings proposal of £1.95 million for 2024-2025 and £3.35 million in 2025-2026 against the nine day centres.
The proposed closure of the four day centres further builds on the initial improvement work and the council’s ambition to consolidate the service and transform the offer for citizens by creating five thriving centres which are fully staffed and with maximum attendance. This will also provide the opportunity to work more closely with partners and local communities.
The recommendation is to close Beeches GOLDD, Harborne, Fairway and Heartlands meaning support for citizens will be provided in the five remaining centres. There are also many day opportunities outside the council-run centres which are commissioned by the council, that have capacity and the quality of service to meet the diverse needs of citizens.
Attendance at the centres has reduced significantly since 2019, with many people choosing direct payments to access alternative services.
Cllr Rob Pocock, Acting Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said:
“Many councils no longer run in-house day centres, so I’m pleased we have still found the money to keep five going across the city. But we do need to save on costs and the remaining centres do need to be fully utilised.
“Citizens using our centres have also said they want to have a wider variety of activities outside the day centres and this is what we are also developing, as part of a more modern 21st century service.
“So the package as a whole means that anyone wanting a council day centre will still be able to receive that. No staff are being made redundant. And there will actually be a wide range of additional options available,
“I do understand that people will have an attachment to the day centre they usually attend but unfortunately our centres have a low attendance rate, with most only around half full.
“While no current users will lose their service, and their loved ones will not lose their respite support, we do recognise that attending a different centre could be difficult for some. Citizens would be fully supported to relocate to an alternative service of their choice which would be equipped to meet their physical, behavioural, sensory and emotional needs.
“There is plenty of capacity in the other centres, meaning more citizens attending, creating a more stimulating environment with more opportunities to socialise. The centres will be fully staffed meaning really focused support for users.
“Re-location plans for citizens would be person-centred and staff familiar to them would be available to plan their move in a sensitive and respectful way, fully sighted on their specific needs to minimise any distress. They would also be supported to move with their friends if that was their choice. A social worker would support every citizen affected by the proposal.”
Families of citizens would also be provided with the support they need as a part of the relocation, including assessments for carers, information and advice.
Full details can be found in the Cabinet Report including consultation feedback and analysis, information on capacity and resources at all nine-day centres, frequently asked questions and a case study of when Heartlands closed temporarily.