Agenda item

Following the negotiations with Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP), the earlier consultation be reopened / concluded with the options that Surrey County Council:

·                negotiates an acceptable block contract with SABP for overnight short breaks or;

·                funds alternative services, which may result in Beeches being closed.

Reasons for Decisions:

Overnight short breaks are a positive experience for children and young people with disabilities to spend time away from their parents, relax and have fun with their peers.  They are also a lifeline for many families giving parents a break from the day and night care for their child.  They give siblings an opportunity to spend some quality family time with their parents. SCC is committed to ensuring that this type of support continues to be available.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust continue to own and run Beeches and have confirmed again that they will not lease the building to the Council or a Private or a Voluntary organisation. Their block contract with Guildford & Waverley CCG (G&WCCG) ends on 4 November 2015.

Completing the consultation is recommended so that there is clarity that the choice is a council block contract with SABP or that Beeches closes.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Social Care Services Board]

The Leader of the Council introduced the item by stating that he was aware that there was a lot of interest in this item and that he wanted to clarify what the Cabinet would be taking a decision on at the meeting.

He stated that the Joint Strategic review of Short Breaks was a partnership between Surrey County Council and Guildford and Waverley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), on behalf of all six Surrey Clinical Commissioning Groups. He went on to say that Cabinet had considered the review, first in February and then again in September last year and that a consultation had taken place in early 2014 which had been reported to Cabinet at the September meeting. 

The Leader confirmed that the report was asking Cabinet to consider re-opening the consultation, because officers had not been able to secure the purchasing arrangements contemplated in 2014.  He stated that Cabinet was not being asked to take a decision about the future of overnight short breaks in the east of the county, or indeed the future of the Beeches at that meeting.

He explained that once the consultation was completed that the results would be reported to Cabinet by officers and that the consultation findings would be part of a wider report, covering all the things that would need to be taken into account to make a final decision.

The Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievement confirmed that she had received a number of comments about the report and she wanted to provide some additional background for those who have not been closely involved with the matter.

She stated that the previous consultation recommended spot purchasing overnight short breaks at Beeches, but despite the Council’s best efforts this had not been possible to agree at a reasonable price. She said that following this, although consultation had already taken place, parents should be given an opportunity to comment further following the failure of the negotiations.

She said that she recognised that provision of overnight short breaks for children with disabilities was a lifeline for families so Cabinet needs to be assured there was sufficient provision to meet assessed needs in East Surrey. She explained that the Council proposed to consult from 3 August until 2 October and engage with families throughout the consultation period as well as arrange meetings at local schools during the second week in September. 

She concluded by stating that officers would also meet with the families of current users of Beeches and prospective users at the beginning of School term in September so that in October the Cabinet had sufficient information to understand the impact on families of the proposed changes to the service before they reached a final decision.She then drew Cabinet Members attention to the amended recommendations that had been tabled at the meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Independence said that he thought that undertaking further consultation was a very good idea and this was endorsed by the Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Health.

RESOLVED:

Following the negotiations with Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP), the earlier consultation be reopened / concluded with the options that Surrey County Council:

·             negotiates an acceptable block contract with SABP for overnight short breaks or;

·             funds alternative services, which may result in Beeches being closed.

Reasons for Decisions:

Overnight short breaks are a positive experience for children and young people with disabilities to spend time away from their parents, relax and have fun with their peers.  They are also a lifeline for many families giving parents a break from the day and night care for their child.  They give siblings an opportunity to spend some quality family time with their parents. SCC is committed to ensuring that this type of support continues to be available.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust continue to own and run Beeches and have confirmed again that they will not lease the building to the Council or a Private or a Voluntary organisation. Their block contract with Guildford & Waverley CCG (G&WCCG) ends on 4 November 2015.

Completing the consultation is recommended now that there is clarity that if there is not a council block contract with SABP the Beeches may close.