Agenda and minutes

Items
No. Item

1.

Question from: County Councillor Matthew Dorrance Subject: Day Centres in Powys

 

Question From:

County Councillor Matthew Dorrance 

Subject:

Day Centres in Powys

Question To:

County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander

Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Welsh Language

 

Question:

 

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care published a delegated decision earlier this week in relation to “the continued impact of COVID-19 on the provision of daytime opportunities in Powys.”

 

Whilst no one underestimates the challenge presented by the ongoing pandemic and the new Omicron variant, our day centres have been closed for a considerable time leaving service users without their service and carers without respite.

 

I have heard from residents in Brecon about the impact this is having and the strain it is placing on people.

 

I note that the delegated decision report does not commit to a re-opening of our Day Centres after the Cabinet Member’s further extension of the closure.

 

Therefore, will the Cabinet Member:

 

1.    Publish the advice and evidence she considered in making the decision to continue with the closure of Day Centres in Powys;

2.    Advise how she considered the wellbeing impacts of the continued closure on service users and their carers;

3.    Advise what plan she has to safely re-open our Day Centres; and

4.    Commit to reviewing the situation every 30 days?

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

Response by the Portfolio Holder:

 

Advice and evidence portfolio holder considered in making the decision to continue with the closure of Day Centres in Powys

The previous portfolio holder decision determined that day services in Powys remain closed until February 12th 2022. A detailed risk assessment could be found in that report.

The most recent portfolio holder determination to maintain closure was reached with reference to the following considerations:

  • The County, and Adults Services has had to contend with the newer Omicron variant. At the time of the report, Powys was experiencing the highest COVID infection rates since the beginning of the pandemic. More detailed incidence rates can be found in the most recent portfolio holder report.
  • The variant has resulted in increased staffing absences across the service, and in particular provider services. In addition, staff who were formerly shielding have been contacted by Welsh Government and instructed to stay 2 metres, or three steps away from people they don't live with. Whilst Adult Services remains in business continuity, it has to focus its efforts on maintaining mission critical activities. You may recall that other staff have been redeployed to domiciliary care, supporting care homes, home based respite and the Council's COVID-19 track and trace team. It is not possible at this point in time, to move a depleted staffing resource away from these mission critical activities back to day centres in a safe way.
  • It should also be noted that we have also been supporting PTHB to undertake critical population health tasks to keep people safe and well during the pandemic. This means that some of our day centre buildings have been used for vaccination and community testing clinics.

Consideration as to the  wellbeing impacts of the continued closure on service users and their carers

Wellbeing of people who draw upon care and support, as well as carers is of paramount importance for the service. That's why we must be assured that if day centres are to re-open they must be able to do so in a safe way. This means not placing residents or staff in a position that makes them more vulnerable than usual to contracting Coronavirus. Whilst the decision to maintain closure of day centres is clearly disappointing for some, we have continued to deliver an outreach service to those that would benefit from it, as well as working in partnership with others to find other meaningful day opportunities for individuals. We have also recently invested further in our Shared Lives model in the County so that we are in a position to expand sessional support opportunities.

We would encourage anyone who feels they may need more support to contact their allocated worker in the service, or if not already known to us, our information and advice service, Assist.

Plan to safely re-open our Day Centres; and a commitment to reviewing the situation every 30 days

Adult Services understands and wants to do all it can to promote meaningful day opportunities for older  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.