Lead Member: Councillor Ruth Houghton, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health

Lead Officer: Natalie McFall, Interim Director of Adult Social Services (DASS)

RESOLVED:

To agree to transfer Aquamira Day Service to the Abbots Wood Site

To agree to delegate the practical arrangements to the Director (DASS) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health

Cabinet considered proposals to transfer the Aquamira Day Service to Abbots Wood and close the Aquamira building due to the Council’s ongoing financial pressures. Members acknowledged the difficult nature of the decision and thanked service users, families, carers and staff for their engagement during consultation. It was stressed that specialist day support would continue, with staff and sensory provision transferring to Abbots Wood to maintain continuity of care.

Questions were raised about the preventative value of the service and the loss of the hydrotherapy pool. Members were advised that Aquamira primarily provided support to vulnerable people with assessed Care Act eligible needs which were multiple, profound and complex, was not a preventative service, and that provision would continue from a different location, Abbots Wood. It was also noted that hydrotherapy was not a statutory local authority function and alternative provision could be accessed through NHS and community facilities where appropriate.

Cabinet noted that individual Care Act assessments and carers’ assessments would be undertaken to ensure any transition meets the needs of service users. Members also highlighted that transport arrangements at Abbots Wood could provide greater opportunities for access to community activities.

RESOLVED:

To agree to transfer Aquamira Day Service to the Abbots Wood Site

To agree to delegate the practical arrangements to the Director (DASS) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health

To note the report and the review of Aquamira Learning Disability Day Service and the financial sustainability and recommend that progress in delivering the wider Adult Social Care Transformation Plan is reviewed by the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 12 months’ time.

REPORT TO FOLLOW – This is due to the cabinet reports on the Day Services being released on Tuesday and not having the scrutiny reports on this released beforehand.

The Committee considered the report on the proposed relocation of the Aquamira Day Service to Abbotswood, noting the financial sustainability challenges associated with the current building-based model, including high running and maintenance costs.

Members acknowledged the specialist nature of the service and the complex needs of users, and recognised the concerns raised through consultation, particularly in relation to the loss of the current environment, transport arrangements and access to the hydrotherapy pool. Questions were raised regarding the adequacy of alternative provision, potential transport impacts, and whether projected savings would be offset by transition and ongoing costs.

Officers advised that the proposal would retain a specialist service offer within an existing facility, with suitable adaptations, including provision of sensory space, and that individual assessments and transition planning would be undertaken to mitigate impacts. It was confirmed that hydrotherapy is not a statutory requirement, and that the Council’s duty is to meet eligible needs through appropriate provision.

Members also raised concerns regarding the future use and ongoing costs of the existing building, noting that this had not been fully detailed within the report. It was suggested that further clarity on property implications would be beneficial in future reporting.

The Committee recognised the difficult balance between maintaining specialist provision and achieving financial sustainability. It was agreed that, subject to the concerns raised, the report could progress to Cabinet for decision, with the expectation that impacts on service users and delivery of mitigations would be closely monitored.