Previous reference: Minute 51 (2017/2018)

The Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing will submit Document “L” which provides an update on the work taking place to re-think the Department’s approach to daytime activities.

Recommended –

(i)            That the contents of the report (Document “L”)  be noted.

(ii)          That the overall direction of travel of Reimagining Days be supported.

(iii)         That the option for the Council to support apprenticeships for people with a learning disability and take a more active part in Project Search be considered.

(Julie Robinson-Joyce – 01274 434143)

The Strategic Director of Health and Wellbeing submitted Document “L” which provided an update on the work taking place to re-think the Department’s approach to daytime activities.

The background to the report revealed that a report on Reimagining Days was presented to the Committee in December 2017 and, at the request of Members made at that time, Document “L” provided an update to that report.

The update reminded Members that Community Led Support, part of the overall departmental transformation work, was a  model for social work which was about working collaboratively with communities to redesign services that worked for everyone, that evolved and were continually refined based on learning.  Reimagining Days was an area of work which would rethink the aspirations for the people who were supported, explore new partnerships with communities, think about how funding was most effectively used, plan new services and alternative types of support and reflect on what actually worked.

A light touch grant process had been undertaken and concluded by 31^st March 2018. The experience of that project led to the belief that a procurement process would not lead to the provision of grass roots community projects that were needed in line with the Community Led Support approach the department was developing and with the appropriate approvals the service had proceeded with a grants process.

Included in the report were a number of initiatives to support the changes being developed including Project Search.  This was a pre-employment programme initially based at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, but now working with other employers, which helped young people with learning disabilities gain the skills they needed to obtain meaningful paid jobs. 

It was explained that seven apprentices with learning disabilities had been successfully appointed by the Council based  in Britannia House and  it was stressed that there were real opportunities to promote access to apprenticeships for young people with learning disabilities through the Council taking a more prominent role within Project Search. 

Members were also advised that the Gig Buddies contract had been awarded to MENCAP.  The contract, which matched adults with a learning disability to a volunteer with similar interests to go to events together, helped support people to get involved in community activities with friends rather than with paid support.  It was explained that whilst there was still a high dependency on traditional services there was a move to get people involved in the community.  Work had been undertaken to develop other options for people and it was hoped to develop that relationship further as new music and theatre venues were developed in Bradford.  Contact had also been made with organisations such as the Science and Media Museum and Kala Sangam to work more closely with people in the district. 

Following the presentation of Document “L” a non voting co-opted Member, representing the Strategic Disability Partnership, endorsed the testament  contained in the report that for many people with disabilities involvement in work and the community was what made for a good life.  She reported that through her work with people with disabilities she was very aware that they wanted opportunities to get more out of day services and to have the opportunity to work and to live as other people did.   The opportunity for the Council, through its apprenticeship scheme, to be more involved in Project Search was discussed.  All Members agreed that the Council should become a major participant in that scheme and that people with disabilities should have some priority, as care leavers currently did, within the Council’s apprenticeship programme.  

A Member questioned if the budget saving of £400,000 was realistic with the volume of adults requiring support and he was assured that targeted services, aligned with the overall departmental transformation work, would deliver those cuts.  It was confirmed that the majority of savings would be realised through reduced building costs; reduced reliance on traditional day centres; and the use of smaller, existing, community centres.  People with specialist needs would be catered for in more appropriate and enhanced resources.

Resolved –

(i)            That the contents of the report (Document “L”)  be noted.

(ii)          That the overall direction of travel of Reimagining Days be supported.

(iii)         That the option for the Council to support apprenticeships for people with a learning disability, physical disability or mental health issues to take a more active part in Project Search would be supported and is encouraged.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Health and Wellbeing