Agenda item

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.

 

-        It was noted that a similar body to Care Inspectorate Wales inspected services of this type in Scotland, but this did not happen in Wales as Care Inspectorate Wales only examined the service in its entirety. As a result, it was enquired what Cyngor Gwynedd was doing to inspect the service provided at the supported accommodations to ensure quality and that there were no problems or abuse.

o   In response, it was confirmed that the Council prioritised the safety of the individuals at the accommodations and that partners provided a very good service.

o   It was accepted that problems could arise within the agencies and within the Council's own provision and it was noted that the Council would step in if any problems arose.

o   It was noted that the Council sought to ensure that the monitoring work was undertaken appropriately but this was not always 100% guaranteed.

o   The fact that the Quality Assurance Team was not as strong as it should be and that they could not visit the services, internally and externally, often enough was recognised but the team attempted to make the most of available resources. It was noted that changes were being made to ensure that the team could reach more of the provision.

o   It was confirmed that the Inspectorate did not go in to inspect these properties specifically as they did in the context of residential homes.

o   Therefore, it was explained that cooperation between Care Inspectorate Wales and the Quality Assurance Team was important in this context.

 

·        Pride was expressed in seeing a reference to the plans to redevelop the Fron Deg home in Caernarfon and it was enquired whether it would be possible to receive an update on this.

o   In response, it was recognised that the work had been in the pipeline for years and that the department was working closely on it with the Housing Department.

o   It was explained that progress had been made. In terms of the finance, it was explained that discussions were currently ongoing. It was possible that the development would include units for rent, meaning that it would be possible to use the rent payments to repay some of the construction costs.

o   It was noted that the department was examining the possibilities of withdrawing funding from regional and national funds for a care and housing provision.

 

-        The intention to get people in out-of-county placements back to Gwynedd by attempting to provide more services locally, was welcomed.

-        Questions were asked about the 21 individuals who were in an out-of-county placement.

o   It was confirmed that the individuals were in out-of-county placements due to the expertise being offered there.

o   It was also added that some individuals had been at these placements since they were children and, therefore, considered them as their homes. It was emphasised that the most important thing was ensuring that regular discussions were held with these individuals to find out their wishes about staying or returning to Gwynedd.

 

-        Reference was made to the plans for the Penrhos site near Pwllheli, noting frustration about how long everything had taken to fall into place. It was asked whether it was possible to receive any update.

o   In response, it was noted that the commitment of all partners in Penrhos was still in place although the partners were under heavy financial pressures.

o   It was explained that any development relied on what happened in the next few weeks in terms of planning permission. It was added that considerable work had been undertaken in the background and that things looked promising.

 

-        In response to a question about the collaboration taking place across the adults services, it was noted that cooperation was essentially important as several cases were relevant to more than one department. It was explained that the social workers, the occupational therapists and other individuals in the teams collaborated well with each other and they had a good working relationship with their colleagues in the Health Board.

 

-        The Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being added that teams collaborated effectively together and ensured that the individual was at the centre.

 

RESOLVED

 

a)     To accept and note only 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.