• Report by:

    Gerry Cornes, Chief Executive

  • TN Number:

    082-22

  • Subject:

    Learning Disability Strategic Review of Day Services – Assessment and Eligibility

  • Responsible Officer:

    Caroline Sinclair, Chief Officer/ Chief Social Work Officer – HSCP

  • Publication:

    This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.

Section

This Technical Note provides an update on the Learning Disability Strategic Review of Day Services.

Officers are progressing the transition from the Kelvinbank Day Service to the new Allander Leisure Centre in Bearsden, where a fully integrated and modernised model of support will be provided from the purpose built resource centre, due to open in November 2022.

Background:

The new service was commissioned as part of the implementation of the Learning Disability Strategic Review and was subject to extensive consultation and Option Appraisal.

Provision of services from the new Day Service will be assessed in accordance with the Fair Access to Community Care Policy, which was approved by the HSCP Board in 2019. 

Assessment Procedure:

The Fair Access to Community Care Policy is supported by a suite of eligibility tools based on an equivalence model of service provision.  This ensures that options for personalisation and self-directed support are provided on an equivalent basis to that of Council / HSCP delivered services.  

A formal Day Service Needs Assessment and Day Service Eligibility tool has been developed as part of the strategic review and approved to establish a risk based approach to assessment, whilst ensuring that the allocation of formal day services is fair, equitable and transparent and contributes to the promotion of wellbeing, social development and independent living.

As part of the implementation of the Fair Access to Community Care Policy, and to ensure a fair and consistent approach to assessment, individuals currently attending Kelvinbank Day Service will be subject to a full reassessment and review before transitioning to the new service within the Allander Leisure Centre.  The updated assessment and new eligibility tool will be applied as part of this process

An informal scoping exercise has been undertaken to determine the impact upon existing service users within Kelvinbank to identify any adverse impact in advance which may be experienced by individuals as a result of the application of the new assessment and eligibility tool.  Findings suggest that there will be little to no change in eligibility for the majority of those who currently access the service.

It is anticipated that there will be an increase in non-statutory, informal support options, which will further enhance people’s choice and support opportunities.

The introduction of the Learning Disability Day Services eligibility tool outlined in point 6 replicates a similar approach, which has been successfully implemented as part of the Strategic Review of Older People Day Services and establishes greater equality within the provision of formal services across care groups.

It is expected that the review/assessment process will commence from mid May 2022.