The West Berkshire Day Centre Concern Group held it's first meeting on Tuesday evening, and a small group of families and carers turned up to discuss how best to move forward with the campaign against the closure of these centres. Although it was agreed that personal budgets can work for some clients, it was decided that they are not a solution that works for everybody and that day centres are currently a most vital way of life for a number of service users.
Concern was expressed about a growing anxiety amongst service users and their carers who do not feel informed about what will be on offer following the closures at the end of September with some disturbing reports of carers feeling near to breaking point. Apologies were received from a number of people in this battle weary position.
The group have agreed to meet again on Tuesday 12th April, at Newbury Football Club, and that meeting will be chaired by Jackie Wilkinson from Rethink who has agreed to act as Chair until a steering group a more formal group has been convened appointed. Speaking after the meeting, Jackie said the group would be looking to see if the council's decision was legal and sound, and that all avenues will be explored with regards to bringing the closure programme to a stop until a full and proper public consultation has taken place.
"There are a number of aspects relating to this process that are open to challenge, and as a group we will investigate all options before the next meeting takes place. It was a lively meeting, and provided those present with an opportunity to discuss their own personal circumstances and problems they had experienced. It's clear from what was said at the meeting that those present felt they had not been consulted with regards to the closures, and we sincerely hope that the leader of the council or the portfolio holder will make themselves present at the next meeting to explain why they believe we have been consulted, when the truth reality appears to be something very different".
The group would welcome anyone who is able to spend an hour and a half to come along; service users, carers, politicians, employees, members of the public wishing to find out about the issues. These are vulnerable people and there must be a better way to manage this process.
Council Leader Graham Jones did not accept an invitation to attend the meeting, and no elected representatives were present on the night.
These personal budgets, what can you use them for?
Could one use them for example to start a day centre?
If people are concerned and/or don't understand how to get their personal budgets working to keep a centre open then my view is that they have not been helped by the council to do just that. What do you think.
If people are concerned and/or don't understand how to get their personal budgets working to keep a centre open then my view is that they have not been helped by the council to do just that. What do you think.
I think it's a simple yes or no question, initially.
These personal budgets, what can you use them for?
Could one use them for example to start a day centre?
The level of budget varies, but if you say the average was £1,500, you'd need to get a lot signed up to cover the costs of a day centre. Plus the money isn't paid up front as a lump sum for the year, so keeping a day centre open would require a lot of start up capital, unless the council retained the existing buildings and provided them to the groups at a cost etc.
At present, I'm told that there are only three services ready to start, and each of them can only sign up so many people. With no public consultation prior to the announcement of closure, there was no real private sector waiting in the wings or any real knowledge at the council about what services would need to be provided by the private sector / community.
You should come to the next meeting, I learn something new at every meeting and it really shows you where the pros and cons are etc.
If people are concerned and/or don't understand how to get their personal budgets working to keep a centre open then my view is that they have not been helped by the council to do just that. What do you think.
The view of those present (families / carers) is that attempts have been made to retain the existing day centres by staff / community groups have fallen on deaf ears. If the council were serious about keeping the centres open in community hands, it could easily happen and it is something that the community appear willing to do. It's just the start up funding and legal issues that are holding that side of things back, and the lack of a suitable building.
It's just the start up funding and legal issues that are holding that side of things back, and the lack of a suitable building.
Is this not the reason the centres are closing in the first place.
I guess it depends on who you talk to. The public explanation is that personal budgets are better, but when you look into it there are other reasons that the council obviously don't want to talk about.
Perhaps you should put this question the Day Centre Concern Group?
"If there are no suitable buildings how do you suggest a day centre could be kept open?"
It wasn't me or them that suggested that there were no suitable buildings - it was you. At the same time you also suggested that the group should start a new centre. Can you explain how on earth you expect them to do so if, as you assert, there are no suitable buildings.
WBC had years to prepare for the end of the lease on Ormonde House, plenty of time to ensure that a suitable building was available.
It wasn't me or them that suggested that there were no suitable buildings - it was you. At the same time you also suggested that the group should start a new centre. Can you explain how on earth you expect them to do so if, as you assert, there are no suitable buildings.
Nope it wasn't me, it was Richard Garvie who suggested there are no suitable buildings.
Good question though, can he explain how on earth he expects them to keep the day centres running if, as he asserts, there are no suitable buildings.
What is more telling. Is that the money for the personal budgets is going to come from the exact same pot that has been removed from the day services. At a previous meeting I have attended it was found that there was a plan for a project in the future; for a day service if enough people decided they wanted to spend their personal budget on such a thing. At that point it started sounding like a crazy new take on a pyramid scheme to myself.
Personal budgets for mental health will only be given to those deemed qualified for care by the local services. Which have a 'critical' care criteria. Which essentially means people only qualify for a brief period (say max 6 weeks) during a crisis and are then kicked back out to fend for themselves. Resulting in very, very few who will ever qualify for a personal budget for more than a few weeks at a time. Definitely not providing the sort of stability and numbers you would need to fund a day service.
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