Work Opportunities for 75 disabled people set to be part of council cuts

Two projects currently in operation in Wrexham could be closed as part of an ongoing review into day and work opportunities for disabled people as Wrexham Council look to save money.

Over the past two years the local authority has been carrying out an evaluation of the services offered at several organisations across Wrexham amid the backdrop of tight council budgets – previously branded ‘grim‘, ‘unpalatable‘ and ‘brutal‘.

Last autumn saw a heated meeting during executive board members and councillors over plans to make savings of £334,000 by ceasing the business projects provided by Le Café, Coverall and Portable Appliance testing (PAT). The year before plans to cut £4-a-day wage were scrapped following an unsympathetic equality suggestion by Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Joan Lowe.

However the council’s ruling administration have argued that “demand for traditional day services provided by the local authority is changing” and that by altering the service means the local authority can provide “flexible choices and greater personalised opportunities to individuals.”

On Wednesday members of the council’s safeguarding, communities and well-being committee will be asked to “formulate their conclusions and recommendations” on phase three of the review – which includes the future of both Erlas Garden project and the Cunliffe Enablement Centre in Rhosddu.

Currently 75 people are supported at these two venues, with 39 people at the Cunliffe Centre and 36 people at the Erlas Garden project.

However the report due before councillors this week tells councillors that although both facilities provide “good services that are well regarded by service users, their families and carers” there are are a “number of issues and challenges with the sites and facilities that mean they do not offer the best opportunities for community participation and can limit community inclusion.”

Earlier this year a consultation was carried out asking the public and service users where “changes might need to be made’ to the day and work opportunities – although the process was not specific to either the Erlas Garden Project or the Cunliffe Enablement Centre.

The report says that key findings from that exercise “show that there is general agreement that support services should be community focused and that individuals should have opportunities that promote their independence and choice.”

It adds that a number of respondents highlighted the ‘importance of individual choice in determining what opportunities they participate in’ adding  that there ‘was a common theme’ around having a community hub in the town centre from where people can access activities.

“Areas of concern expressed by those who contributed were around the need for suitable accessible facilities in the community, suitable transport and enough support for individuals to participate in the community activities they choose.”

As a result the council says it will “reshape day and work opportunities services to deliver more flexible, person centred services that are fit for purpose, offer quality, are sustainable and make more effective use of available resources.”

To achieve this “necessary transformation”, the council is proposing to “relocate services provided at Erlas Garden project and Cunliffe Enablement Centre and focus on community participation for people who use the services provided by social care”.

Although councillors are presented with three options, it appears clear there is only one preferred option, “Decommission the services and do something different.” The ‘transformation’ into the ‘different’ is suggested as being:

– Move away from centralised services based in the Cunliffe Enablement Centre to provision via a range of community settings which would lead to the eventual closure of Cunliffe Centre;
– Close Erlas Garden Project as a business project managed by Social Care.

Use of leisure centre facilities and a town hub are to be looked at, and ‘outdoor environment projects’ may see some use of Erlas, “It is proposed some provision on the Erlas site continue with opportunities for development to be explored with the Victorian Walled Garden or with other community organisations as part of long term plans.”

It adds: “The model going forward is intended to deliver person centred services, increasing choice and control, be locally provided, flexible and sustainable. A model which delivers the key outcomes required from the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales)
Act.

“Bringing together staff resources from Cunliffe Enablement Centre and Erlas Garden project and ceasing to run the business project would provide the staff resources required to support the delivery of a range of community based services and also support for a dedicated service for people with complex needs across Wrexham.”

The report will be considered by members of the safeguarding, communities and well-being scrutiny committee on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.

Top picture: Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Cllr Joan Lowe