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:

 

Will the Cabinet Member provide Council with:

 

1.    an updated position statement on the provision and operation of Day Centres in Powys;

2.    a copy of the most recent risk assessment and Equality Impact Assessment undertaken in relation to the continued closure of our Day Centres;

3.    evidence about the assessment and consideration given to the continued closure on the wellbeing of service users and their carers; and

4.    a road map for the safe re-opening of Day Centres.

 

Minutes:

Response by the Portfolio Holder:

 

1.    An updated position statement on the provision and operation of Day Centres in Powys;

Day centres and day services remain closed up to 12th February 2022. This acknowledges the inability of opening up day settings to previous levels during the pandemic. Considering the various dynamic factors that must be considered (e.g. case rates in Powys; staffing sufficiency; Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance), this position is being reviewed on a monthly basis. More detail behind this position can be found in the most recent portfolio holder report below.

Agenda for Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Welsh Language on Tuesday, 3rd August, 2021 Cyngor Sir Powys County Council (moderngov.co.uk)

Many of our staff who were working in these settings are not in a position to return to their substantive roles, due to not being able to deliver care/support within 2 metres. We have and are continuing to do all we can to support these individuals back to work, but we must abide by occupational health advice and Welsh Government workforce risk assessment outcomes. Other staff have been redeployed to what we call our business critical activities such as domiciliary care, supporting care homes, home based respite and the Council's COVID-19 track and trace team. Ultimately, this means that at the moment, we do not have the same levels of staff provision (both in terms of premises and transport) that we had for day care settings compared to pre-pandemic.

It should also be noted that we are also 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.

2.    a copy of the most recent risk assessment and Equality Impact Assessment undertaken in relation to the continued closure of our Day Centres;

A copy of the most recent risk assessment can be found in p10-18 of the portfolio holder report as mentioned in Q1 above. An equality impact assessment was not undertaken at the point that our day centres were closed as the closure was as a response to the service moving into business continuity measures on the 16th March 2020. The formal guidance from the UK and Welsh Government at this point with regards to a national lockdown was clear, with the public only being allowed to leave their house once per day for exercise/grocery shopping. Our rapid impact assessment at the time was that such a closure was needed and indeed mandated by Welsh Government to protect our residents.

 

3.    evidence about the assessment and consideration given to the continued closure on the wellbeing of service users and their carers

What matters conversations have been had with those residents that were attending day centres prior to the pandemic. We know that being connected to your community and having opportunities to socialise contribute greatly to wellbeing and this is a theme that has emerged  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.