Leeds day care centres set to close in adult care shake-up

Councillors have said they will oppose what they claim are controversial plans to close facilities for people with learning disabilities. Wetherby Conservative ward members have said they will 'fight tooth and nail' to save Wetherby Day Centre - formerly known as Wetherby Adult Training Centre - which is set to be axed as part of a city-wide shake-up of adult day care services. Next week's executive board meeting will hear how a successful pilot scheme involved the Moor End centre at Hunslet being closed and replaced with activities tailored to individual needs at other community venues. The council now plans to roll out the programme and close three more centres – West Ardsley, Horsforth and Wetherby. Ramshead Wood at Seacroft or Potternewton will likely close in the long term. The closures are expected to save the council £868,000 in capital and £595,000 in running costs. The money would be used to refurbish the remaining centres. Wetherby concerns But Conservative Wetherby councillor Alan Lamb has criticised the scheme ahead of next week's meeting. He said: "This news is a real body blow to some of the most vulnerable people in the Wetherby area. "As ward members we will fight tooth and nail to oppose these plans which are patently unfair." Councillor John Procter added: "This is now the third time that proposals to shut Wetherby Day Centre have been put forward. Every time this idea has been mooted we have knocked them back. This time will be no different." And councillor Gerald Wilkinson added: "What we as Ward Members find hard to understand is why Wetherby Day Centre is once again being targeted in this review. We hope that this is not a textbook case of postcode politics by the new administration." The council says the roll-out of the strategy will mean less people will need to attend large, segregated day centres, making a further three of them surplus to requirements. It's vision is to give adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to benefit from engaging in the life of the city, while making sure that the service is in good shape to continue meeting the needs of those with the most complex needs. Fulfilling Lives services in Horsforth, Wetherby and West Ardsley have been identified as the most suitable ones to be replaced with smaller bases in existing community buildings, as they have the lowest attendance and their buildings are in most need of modernisation. Further investment will be made in the remaining centres to ensure they meet the needs of their customers. Labour councillor Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member with responsibility for adult social care, said: "People with learning disabilities have every right to feel part of their local communities, and not be excluded by being sent to day centres every day of the week. It is right that we look at different ways of including them in society, and the traditional services on offer don't always fit the bill. "Its clear from the success we have had in changing the way we deliver services to customers from the Moor End centre, that people's aspirations are very different now to what they used to be, and we need to move with the times. "The positive way in which the new arrangements have been received by our customers proves that this transformation is a huge step in the right direction." Homecare services on the agenda At the same executive board meeting, council chiefs will be asked to give the green light to proposals which outline new ways of delivering homecare services to make sure that they provide the best possible choice and increased opportunities for remaining independent for customers. The report sets out plans to develop a reablement service in Leeds, which will help people to do things for themselves rather than having things done for them. This will help to promote independence and support customers to continue living in their own homes, as well as reducing their need for long-term health and social care services. The report says: "The total domiciliary care budget is in excess of £33 million, made up of local authority provision and contracted provision from the independent sector. This paper heralds major service improvements and sets the direction for the future delivery and management of homecare services in Leeds. These improvements will ensure the most effective provision possible, which also represents the best value for money." Councillor Lucinda Yeadon said: "As the number of older people in the city continues to increase, so does the demand on homecare services. "With increasing pressures on adult social care budgets, it simply isn't possible to carry on doing what we have always done. We need to shape our services so that we can continue to offer care to vulnerable people in our communities that is affordable, meets their needs and supports them to live their lives how they want to live them. "I strongly believe that the reablement service and personal budgets offer far better choice for customers and will provide the most effective service for the future." The report will be discussed at next Wednesday afternoon's exectuive board meeting. What do you think? Have your say in the comemnts section below.