Capacity, intake, staff and relationships Would staff numbers and the staff working in the services remain the same? The numbers and level of staffing for the Day Service would remain unchanged. There is a saving attached to the proposals to consolidate the three group homes onto one site. This would include reductions to the staffing budget. We would need fewer staff to work on one site in comparison to working across three sites. However, all of the current staff would be able to move to the new service as we are currently recruiting to vacancies and will recruit to temporary posts. Would this reorganisation mean there will be fewer agency staff? By combining the staff from across the group homes into one team, there would be more flexibility for staff support and cover. This together with the use of our relief staff means we would be less likely to need cover from agency staff. What would be the refreshment facilities, and would a staff member also work as a cook? At this stage we are looking to provide a restaurant-type facility to provide main meals and snacks. We may be able to extend this to the day service should this be something day service clients would like to buy whilst attending the day service. We are considering various options relating to this, including employing a cook to undertake this role or a catering contract to provide this. As yet, this has not been finalised and requires further consideration. How would you manage the risk that day service clients may be seen as using the same space as residential clients when sharing areas of the new building? We will work with clients from both services in the design and layout of the proposed services. As part of this work, we will need to look at the spaces used both for the day service and outside of these hours for the people living in the accommodation, and have clear agreements in place. Facilities and activities Do the plans for the new building ensure sufficient access on corridors for wheelchair users? The existing corridors at the Hookstead building are being retained and are mostly 1.3m wide. This is sufficient for wheelchair access.
If the proposals go ahead, will you be providing clients with feedback forms, so they can let staff know how the changes are working? Yes, we encourage client feedback continuously in all our services and this would continue in the new service. In addition to this we will be holding reviews with each person living in the accommodation 6 weeks after moving in and at the 6 month point. We will undertake a formal review one year on to look at how the new service is working and if any changes are needed. Other ways of doing this Would you still close and relocate these services if responses to the consultation were not favourable? The responses to the consultation are collated and are then carefully considered before making any recommendations about the outcome of the consultation. Our recommendations are presented to the Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Community Safety along with all of the consultation findings, and decisions are made with the feedback taken into account. Other things Is the money for this proposal ring fenced? We have capital funding provisionally agreed for the proposed Hookstead refurbishment project should the proposals go ahead. Have neighbours voiced any concerns about the proposals? We are not aware of any feedback from neighbours currently; however we are planning to hold a meeting with neighbours if the proposals are agreed, to share the plans. We would need to make a planning application for the building works proposed. This would provide neighbours with further opportunities to voice their opinion.
There are two DDA toilets accessible from the main dining area, and one personal care/toilet area also accessed from the main dining room. There is one DDA toilet and one personal care/toilet area accessible from the front wing and reception areas. There is an additional toilet on the lower ground floor that can be accessed when using the garden area or for gardening/outside groups. Would the Town House arts collective be able to play a role in shaping activities and the environment at the new building? We have keen artists across our services that form the Town House collective. We would want to encourage all of the artists to be involved in sharing their ideas and work within the new building. Would there be opportunities to go out and do things in the community? Yes, we would continue with the current community activities that are on offer. We would also like to build upon these opportunities and increase these going forward. We have a community development officer who will be working on increasing these with us. Will it be possible to regulate noise levels (for example, from residential service clients’ music)? The Hookstead building would be refurbished to meet with the current Building Regulation Standards to control sound transmission from residential areas. Support and advice Staff offered support recently for clients moving from Sandbanks to the recently refurbished Greenwood. Would the same happen for clients moving from Southview Close to Hookstead? Yes, if the proposals go ahead we would work with clients to ensure a smooth transition to the new service. As staff would transfer to the new service with the clients, they will be available to support clients with the planning, getting people ready, with the transition itself and afterwards with the settling in period.
Other ways of doing this or saving money Could energy saving lighting be used at Southview Close, and automatic taps that switch off, as ways of saving money? Energy saving LED lighting would be utilised at the Hookstead building together with sun tubes and automated lighting controls. Sensor fitted water taps could also be used at the Hookstead building where appropriate. Please also see response to 6.2 below. Would you consider redeveloping Southview Close rather than moving? Southview Close has served Learning Disability Day Services really well for a long time, but there have always been compromises on the building, for example the small rooms, lots of corridors and the underutilised spaces (the outside quad space and upstairs rooms) that are not easily adjusted without considerable cost. Southview has been considered for redevelopment, but the cost would be far in excess of the cost to refurbish Hookstead, which as a “blank canvas” would provide an opportunity for people currently using Southview Close to share and develop what they would like at a new day centre. Any changes made at Southview would be very disruptive and mean that either people have to move out whilst any works occur, or building work would go on around people using the service. It would also be very unlikely to resolve issues around space that is currently not accessible, e.g. the upstairs space. If the Hookstead development does not go ahead, it is likely that learning disability services would continue to look for an alternative venue to Southview Close, due to the problems highlighted.