Consultation aims to create a more flexible and person-centred service for day o

A consultation to identify ways to enhance the council’s valued day services for people with dementia, learning disabilities and additional complex needs has launched.

Day services, also known as day opportunities, include activities, services and day centres for adults who need care and support, and their carers who may need respite services.

The consultation is open until Sunday 29 August 2021 and seeks feedback about proposed changes that will enable residents and carers to have more choice and control over the kind of activities and other opportunities available to them.

The service has continued to operate throughout the pandemic. Responding creatively to residents’ needs during and beyond lockdowns, the team has provided new services like telephone wellbeing support, doorstep support, activity packs and social activities using Zoom. Recent feedback from people who use these services also identified an appetite for more community-based opportunities and a broader range of activities. Capitalising on the changes that the pandemic brought about, the consultation will explore how a less building-based approach can benefit residents by providing a more flexible, personalised service.

Councillor Stuart Carroll, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “We want to expand how we deliver day opportunities for adults with dementia, learning disabilities and additional complex needs.

“We want to shape the service to reflect a more modern approach that gives our residents an enhanced service with access to a wider range of activities in the community, instead of being mainly based in a day centre. Every resident’s needs and aspirations are unique, and our service needs to reflect that.”

Options under consideration include:

Closing Windsor Day Centre (for people living with dementia) and Oakbridge Centre (for people with learning disabilities) and providing this type of support in other buildings for those who need it
Offering a wider range of activities in the community
Making a support service available at the times residents and carers need it

Councillor Carroll added: “No decisions have been made yet. We will continue to work with residents to understand their wishes and ambitions, involving families, carers and advocates in these conversations. We have written to all our residents, and I would like to encourage everyone with an interest in this area to respond to the consultation.

“Together, we can create a flexible, responsive service that celebrates and supports people as individuals, enabling them to thrive”.

All day service customers and their carers have been sent a consultation letter, explaining the proposals in detail and how to provide feedback. There is additional assistance available to those who require support to respond.

All feedback will be carefully considered and will inform any decision made by Cabinet when it meets later in the year.