Issue - meetings

To consider the report.

DECISION

a)     To accept and note the report on the situation regarding supported accommodation for individuals with learning disabilities in Gwynedd, as there is no reference to mental health and support for women in the report.

b)     To ask the officers to share information with the committee members about supported accommodation that is provided by the mental health service and for providing support to women.

The Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being submitted the report to provide context and an update on the situation regarding supported accommodation for individuals with learning disabilities. He thanked the Senior Learning Disabilities Manager and the whole team for their work stating that it was difficult to convey in words how important was this work.

It was explained that the Welsh Government's Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan 2022 to 2026 outlined the agenda for services for individuals with learning disabilities and that the department collaborated with partners to plan and develop supported accommodation models that were suitable to meet those needs. It was noted that 70 people were currently waiting for accommodation and that these were divided into three categories: the individuals who needed priority namely accommodation within the next year; the individuals who needed accommodation within the next two years and the individuals who needed to be planned for over the next years. It was noted that the department collaborated with the Housing Department and the housing associations and that this link was essential. It was explained that work had just been completed on a new house in Groeslon which would be able to provide support for three individuals and it was hoped to be able to accommodate people by November.

It was explained that the Council had a fairly full picture of the situation in the county and that it completed continuous assessments of families/individuals who came through the system and that preparing for the future was part of everyone's package. It was also confirmed that the Learning Disability Team and the Derwen Team regularly met to discuss the situations of individuals of transition age, i.e., approximately 6 months either side of 18 years old, in order to prepare and collaborate for those children who become adults.

During the discussion, the following observations were noted:

-        The members expressed their thanks for the report and the developments were welcomed.

-        It was noted that the contents of the report did not match the item title on the agenda and that the item on the agenda was much broader than what had been included in the report.

o   In response, it was noted that this was a fair enough observation confirming that the other elements were part of the picture although there was no reference to them in the report.

o   It was explained that the element in terms of support for women tended to overlap with matters that are under the responsibility of the Housing Department and this may be an example of an area where cooperation between departments could be strengthened.

-        Concern was expressed that the definition of learning disability was too narrow and there was a tendency to focus on the definition alone, without considering how the needs are very similar to mental health needs. It was noted that better cooperation between the learning disability service and the mental health service would be very beneficial rather than placing the matters in separate blocks.

-  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7