Short Break Consultation

Closed 31 Jul 2014

Opened 14 May 2014

Contact

David Hartley

0121 303 5154

david.a.hartley@birmingham.gov.uk

Feedback updated 2 Apr 2015

We asked

We asked for peoples comments on four key proposals these were to; • Offer emergency placements at Brook House • Offer planned respite at The Laurels • Open an enablement facility at Viscount house for people with learning disabilities for up to six months • To close Allenscroft short break service in Kings Heath

You said

The consultation started on the 12th May and finished on the 31st July 2014. 300 copies of the consultation document were issued along with 300 copies of the consultation questionnaire, these were made available at the various meetings and a number of them were issued to the day service following the individual consultation meetings for further distribution through existing carer networks. There were 38 questionnaires returned. In total 211 people attended the 37 consultation events held across the city, out of these 47% were carers, 41% were staff and 12% were service users. Key themes raised were; • Carers expressed concern at the prospect of Brook House being solely for emergency admission, as this proposal involved the service users that were currently accessing Brook house for the planned respite to access this from the Laurels. Carers were concerned about the impact this would have on their relative in terms of their ability to cope with change and the knock effect this would have on their home life. • Concerns were expressed generally at the capacity of the Laurels to support all planned admission given its lack of disabled bedrooms and the increased volumes of service users accessing it, once Allenscroft had closed. • A number of carers expressed positive comments at the prospect of opening a new facility expressly for the purpose of learning disability enablement. • A number of carers most of which were currently accessing Allenscroft expressed concern and displeasure at the prospect of the closure of Allenscroft, a number of carers raised the consequential lack of short break facilities on the south of the city.

We did

• We amended the proposal in regard only having emergency admission at Brook House, planned respite will be offered at both Brook House and the laurels along with emergency admission at both • The proposal to open an enablement facility at Viscount house is in the process of being progressed • Due to their being no serious alternative to closing Allenscroft, the proposal to close Allenscroft was progressed. Alternative buildings are being looked into to replace the Laurels; focus is on sourcing a building on the south of the city.

Overview

Birmingham City Council Directorate for People currently provides short break services for adults with a learning disability from age 18 years and above.  This includes planned short breaks (sometimes called respite care) and placements for those needing accommodation because of an emergency or crisis. 

The service has 41 beds in total and is provided from three buildings in Birmingham: Allenscroft in Kings Heath, Brook House in Lozells and The Laurels in Stechford.

Why your views matter

Why are changes being proposed to the short break service?

Over the past two years fewer people have been using the service.  This has been for a number of reasons including:

  • Service users do not need a short break service because of the type of accommodation options now available to them;
  • New service users and carers do not feel that the existing short break service meets their particular needs;
  • New service users and carers do not like the quality of our buildings; and
  • More service users use a direct payment to buy care to meet their needs. A direct payment is a cash payment which allows people to make their own arrangements for care.

The City Council has reviewed its short break service and there remains a need to retain some beds for emergency placements and planned short breaks.  However, there is also a need for an enablement service in a residential setting for adults with a learning disability.  An enablement service offers the person the opportunity to learn practical skills that will allow them to live more independently.  Individuals would be offered a structured and time limited enablement programme for up to six months.

The City Council proposes to continue to provide emergency placements at Brook House and planned short breaks at The Laurels.  In addition it will introduce a time limited residential enablement service for adults with a learning disability at a newly commissioned building called Viscount House in Castle Vale.

The City Council proposes to close Allenscroft short break service, Allenscroft is an old building that is no longer fit for purpose.  The building does not have a lift and is not suitable for people using wheelchairs.  It would be too expensive to refurbish Allenscroft to meet the required standards.

Areas

  • ACOCKS GREEN
  • ASTON
  • BARTLEY GREEN
  • BILLESLEY
  • BORDESLEY GREEN
  • BOURNVILLE
  • BRANDWOOD
  • CITY CENTRE
  • CITY-WIDE
  • EDGBASTON
  • ERDINGTON
  • HALL GREEN
  • HANDSWORTH WOOD
  • HARBORNE
  • HODGE HILL
  • KINGS NORTON
  • KINGSTANDING
  • LADYWOOD
  • LONGBRIDGE
  • LOZELLS AND EAST HANDSWORTH
  • MOSELEY AND KINGS HEATH
  • NECHELLS
  • NORTHFIELD
  • OSCOTT
  • PERRY BARR
  • QUINTON
  • SELLY OAK
  • SHARD END
  • SHELDON
  • SOHO
  • SOUTH YARDLEY
  • SPARKBROOK
  • SPRINGFIELD
  • STECHFORD AND YARDLEY NORTH
  • STOCKLAND GREEN
  • SUTTON FOUR OAKS
  • SUTTON NEW HALL
  • SUTTON TRINITY
  • SUTTON VESEY
  • TYBURN
  • WASHWOOD HEATH
  • WEOLEY

Audiences

  • Carers
  • Older people
  • Disabled people
  • Older people
  • People with Disabilities
  • People with Learning Disabilities

Interests

  • Care & Support for Adults
  • Older people issues