Discussion lead by Vice Chairman, Lisa Hughes.

Lisa Hughes informed the Forum that the overall spending on Adult Social Care would increase but there were significant cuts to services and support for Adults with Learning Disabilities. Spending on their day services would be halved and two day centres would be closed. Lisa Hughes continued to inform the Forum that £600k would be cut from 211 adults with learning disabilities who lived in Residential care, supported living or have support in a family home or community setting.

Lisa Hughes raised concerns about this at February’s Cabinet Meeting and Sharon Bunce along with Lisa submitted questions to the Full Council later in the month (the written and supplementary questions and their responses will be provided to Forum members). The Lead Member for Adults, Children & Health stated these were not budget cuts but part of a transformation strategy. Councillor Carroll said that a significant proportion of the service had been brought in house into Optalis and that was why there was a difference in expenditure, the policy decision had been heavily scrutinised at the time.

In response to the question about the status of an analysis of supported living packages, Councillor Carroll confirmed it had been completed but he wasn’t able to provide details at the council meeting. He would write to Sharon Bunce with that information subsequently. This was still being awaited.

In response to the question about the closure of the Day Centres and halving of spending on day services for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Cllr Carroll stated there would be a full, open 12-week consultation. Further details were required for this.

Lisa Hughes commented that people with learning disabilities were among the most marginalised in society; having poorer health, life expectancy and employment prospects while being at greater risk of domestic abuse and dying from Covid.

The other major area of concern in the budget which was raised at the Cabinet related to the digitisation of services and reduction (in hours, locations and staff) of face to face support. Many people with disabilities and older people could not or found it very hard to use online services. This was not made any better by the sub-optimal RBWM website.

Many older residents would not have had training on using the internet and digital services at work, so there were big training and confidence issues to overcome. Many would not have internet access at home. Additionally, age-related impairments such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, essential tremor, memory loss and arthritis would make using digital services far more difficult, even for confident and regular internet users. Some younger residents with disabilities would also have accessing and using digital services.

There could not only be a withdrawal of RBWM face to face or telephone service provision and reliance on individual residents or community support. Residents affected by this would be among the most vulnerable in the borough and must have their needs met.

Lisa Hughes suggested that these two items be kept on the agenda.

Claire Watson commented that more consideration be given to everything being online as there were so many young people whose families were in contact through PACiP who were 18-19 years old and were using an iPad at school or college, they only knew how to use the device for school/college.

Councillor Rayner commented that these were really important points and it would be great to pick all these issues up outside the meeting to make all the services better for everyone.

ACTION: Keep on agenda and have another update at next Forum