Decision details

Mary Hardie, Andrew Simpson and Lesley Patel were welcomed from NHS England North Specialised Commissioning Team to deliver a presentation on the progress of the engagement process with stakeholders on proposals relating to services for adults with learning disabilities.

The consultation document was reported to be near completion.  And it was confirmed that the option to be proposed was around the moving of the learning disabilities service from Calderstones (now renamed as Mersey Care Whalley) and hoped to have the consultation completed by the end of the year. 

It was confirmed that the proposal would include medium secure services as well as low secure services provided at Mersey Care Whalley.  There were reported to be around 100 service users remaining in Mersey Care Whalley from the North West with 47 of those from Lancashire. Members were advised that they were in the process of mapping out their needs and requirements to determine a pathway of care.  From this exercise, it was reported to be anticipated that less than half of the 47 service users would come back into the community.

The Committee were informed that for new service users, the challenge would be around investment, care packages and how the use of pooled budgets (with health and social care) would work to support those service users. For existing service users, pooled budgets could help to support the dowry (for those service users in care for five years or more).

It was acknowledged that for those requiring lifelong care, there was a continuing need to ensure that the required level of care was appropriate to improve their lives.

Members were informed that the four Transforming Care Partnerships in the North West were tasked with drafting plans to support the transformation (which can be found through the link below).

https://www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities/tcp/north/

Highlights from the discussions are outlined below:

·  It was confirmed that services would need to be developed in communities in order to support this proposal by securing investment through the Fast Track and Transforming Care Partnership and working in partnership with voluntary and independent sectors.

·  The Committee expressed concerns around funding to support sustaining the redesign.

·  It was recognised that this was a challenging time for staff on the Whalley site as they go through the process of service redesign and were looking at options for redeployment to utilise their experience and expertise in this area of work.

·  Members were assured that there would be a requirement for risk assessments to be completed to ensure the safety of service users and communities and to ensure that any level of restriction was appropriate for service users.

·  It was reported that plans would include ensuring staff had the appropriate skill sets for the service redesign and providers would need to develop their staff for the future needs.

·  It was confirmed that there were some providers for low secure services already in place across the North West footprint who may be requested to continue the provision of services.

·  Members were advised that as this was a national programme, evaluation was already taking place through data collection and review. 

Resolved: The Health Scrutiny Committee noted and commented on the engagement process.