More than 60 people will lose their jobs under plans to close eight Derbyshire day centres providing support for residents with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Derbyshire County Council is set to close eight out of its 12 centres at a cabinet meeting on Thursday (13 October). 

Papers to be discussed at that meeting show that 205 staff are employed to work at the day centres, some carrying out work there in addition to other roles with the council.

Of these, 105 staff are to be cut, but 42 new roles are set to be created as part of a bid to provide more community outreach when the centres are closed – leaving 63 maximum job losses.

The council says it will look to avoid as many compulsory redundancies as possible and consider alternative job opportunities.

Papers show that staff roles would effectively be halved in each job category, including caretakers, cleaners, caters, drivers and day service workers.

The papers detail that staff were not directly consulted as part of the planned closures though some did respond to the public consultation.

Staff will be formally consulted from the end of October through to the end of January 2023 and final dismissal orders will be made on June 11 next year.

Council documents say: “The consultation was not directly involving colleagues, however, as members of the public staff have a right to voice an opinion on the proposals. Some participants identified themselves as colleagues working in day centres. 

“However, some used the opportunity not to voice opinions on the proposals but rather talk about the impact the proposals would have directly on them as a colleague. Further there was some concern from other participants for what would happen to colleagues if proposals were approved.”

The county council is planning to close eight of its day centres due to declining use and a bid to change the approach in which the authority provides support.

It says many of the 101 people who make use of the service (primarily aged 26 to 35 and 46 to 55) already make use of other means of support.

The authority acknowledges that the reduction in council-run support could place more of a burden on charities and voluntary groups to pick up the slack, but does not feel this is adverse enough to stop the proposed closures.

It plans to close:

1. Ashbourne and Waltham (joint service), based at Ashbourne library
2. Oxcroft in Oxcroft Lane, Bolsover
3. Renishaw in Main Road, Renishaw, North East Derbyshire
4. Whitemoor in John O’Gaunts Way, Belper, Amber Valley
5. Coal Aston in Coal Aston Village Hall, Eckington Road, North East Derbyshire
6. Carter Lane in Shirebrook, Bolsover district
7. Whitwell in Portland Street, Whitwell, Bolsover district
8. Newhall in Meadow Lane, Newhall, South Derbyshire

The authority aims to keep open: 

1. Alderbrook in Buxton Road, Chinley, High Peak
2. No Limits in the West Street Resource Centre, Chesterfield
3. Outlook in Briar Gate, Long Eaton, Erewash
4. Parkwood in Alfreton Park, Amber Valley

Residents who currently attend any of the centres set to be closed will be provided with free transport to their closest council-run facility, the authority has promised.

A statement from the county council’s cabinet member for adult care, Cllr Natalie Hoy, does not mention staff cuts.

She said: “I recognise that for some people the prospect of change is unsettling, particularly where they have used a day centre for a long time.

“But for far too long we have offered a one-size-fits-all approach to day services that doesn’t take in to account people’s wishes and aspirations for their own lives. We want to make sure the services we offer focus on their strengths to achieve personal goals.

“We’ve seen a significant reduction in the number of people using our day centres, with some of our buildings having very small numbers of users each week. Younger people are choosing to access different activities and opportunities. 

“But we recognise that people have formed strong friendships and relationships while attending our centres which is why – among our pledges to people if these plans go ahead – there is a commitment to ensure these are supported to continue.

“We have also pledged that if the proposed changes to the service were agreed, anyone who wanted to continue using one of our centres could do so and we’d provide transport to enable them to do that.

“By transforming our service, we will be able to reinvest money in to creating the types of day opportunities that people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic are telling us they want to help them lead more independent and fulfilled lives.”

Trade union UNISON says the plans will result in “significant” job losses and branch secretary, Jeanette Lloyd, said the union would “do everything it can to support centre staff”.

She said: “Dedicated centre staff face a very difficult few months of uncertainty.”

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