Cabinet agrees to improvements in adult social care services in Cheshire East

 

Day care users have expressed their delight after Cheshire East Council today announced that facilities for people with learning disabilities will remain in Knutsford.

Following a review of the future provision of adult social care services, the Council’s Cabinet agreed to a set of improvements as the authority looks to enhance existing facilities and improve day and respite and short break services in the area.

One of the key decisions taken was the retention of the Stanley Centre in Knutsford but with investment to separate it from Stanley House and improve bathroom facilities.

Alan Falconer, 27, who has been using the Stanley Centre for the last seven years, is delighted that the building will remain open. With the help of parents Carol Cooper and Dave May, Alan runs social evenings for adults with special needs called All 4 U at Cranage Village Hall, near Holmes Chapel on Friday evenings.

He now plans to run a regular All 4 U night at the Stanley Centre. Following the Cabinet’s decision, he said: “I absolutely love going to the Stanley Centre and I am so pleased that the councillors listened to us.”

A three-month consultation on proposals to potentially transfer some day and short break services from the Stanley Centre and Bexton Court, in Knutsford and also Peatfields in Macclesfield; Dean Row in Wilmslow and Queens Drive in Nantwich ended in December 2011.

Hundreds of people, including service users and carers across Cheshire East, took part in this process. Thousands of signatures were also collected on a petition, which was debated at a full meeting of Council in February.

In addition to the Stanley Centre announcement, the following key changes have also been agreed:

· £182,000 investment in facilities at Macclesfield and Wilmslow leisure centres to continue with a new type of day care for those with learning disabilities who are fit and active;

· Bexton Court to permanently close;

· Transfer of day care from Dean Row to Redesmere, in Handforth, which will receive investment to improve specialist facilities and capacity;

· Create a new day care centre for people with dementia on the Hollins View site in Macclesfield, with services transferring over from Mayfields, also in Macclesfield;

· Mayfields to provide services previously provided at Peatfields;

· Close offices at 48/54 Lawton Street, Congleton, with staff relocated to other buildings;

· Develop Mountview, Congleton, to expand the dementia respite facility and provide an early disability respite wing;

· A new learning disability respite wing to be built at Lincoln House, Crewe;

· Transfer service users at the Queen’s Drive facility to Lincoln House and Mountview, if closer for users.

These changes will ensure that day and short breaks are provided for in a ‘personalised’ but cost-effective way and within buildings that are fit for purpose and can be adapted in line with changing demand.

Changes are intended to be made as soon as possible to deliver savings of £318,000 in 2012/13. There will also be a potential capital receipt of £1.18m from buildings deemed surplus to requirements.

Councillor Roland Domleo, Cabinet member with responsibility for adult services, said: “I would like to acknowledge the participation of all those customers and their carers who made their views known during this process.

“I hope these final decisions will show that the many views we have received have been taken into account and I am delighted that users have expressed delight in our findings.

“There have been very strong calls to keep care ‘local’. Whilst we would like everyone to have services on their doorstep we have to be pragmatic in how local that doorstep can be and we must cut our coat according to our cloth.

“As we have said repeatedly during this consultation, there was no intention to reduce services – rather we are relocating some of them into improved and expanded facilities that are fully equipped to meet with the demands of today, and tomorrow.

“Cheshire East is committed to maximising choice for customers under personalisation and will continue to provide day and respite services, which we will monitor and continue to redesign in line with changing demand and expectations.”

Cabinet members recognised the importance of ensuring t