The public will be asked their opinion on proposals to potentially close eight day centres for people with disabilities, as part of a shake-up of services.

In Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting on Thursday (March 10) members approved a 12-week consultation on the future of services for people with learning disabilities and autism.

The council currently operates 12 days centres, which are attended by 139 people out of the 740 with learning disabilities or autism that the authority supports.

It says by closing eight of the centres, which it claims are currently under used, it would free up investment to redesign the service with the following changes –

•    Expansion of the Community Connectors team – trained staff who support people to explore opportunities that exist in their local communities.

•    Creation of a new Support Service Team to provide more intensive practical support to people and their families.

Member for Adult Care Councillor Natalie Hoy said: “I’d like to reassure people that everyone’s views will be taken into consideration before any decisions are made about the future of day services.

“I understand that for some people the prospect of change can be unsettling but this is about people having the best quality of life they can possibly have. Everyone deserves to live an independent and fulfilling life.

“We know that people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic want the freedom and support to be more involved in their local community so we want to make sure the services we offer focus on their strengths to achieve their personal goals.

“While we recognise that for people with complex needs a more traditional building-based service may need to form part of their care, for others it may not be the best way to support them to lead fulfilled lives.

“Younger people in particular are already choosing to do other things and we’ve seen a reduction in the numbers of people wanting to use a day centre, something that was happening even before Covid.

“By transforming our service, we would be able to make better use of the resources we have available to help more people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic lead more independent and fulfilled lives.”

If the council proceeds with the closure plans, the first phase would be to cease service in Ashbourne and Waltham (Derbyshire Dales), Oxcroft (Bolsover) and Renishaw (North East Derbyshire) over the course of three months.

The second phase would again take place over three months and see Amber Valley service users at Whitemoor be transferred to Parkwood.

Day services at Coal Aston (North East Derbyshire), Carter Lane and Whitwell (both in Bolsover) and Newhall Day Centre (South Derbyshire) would cease.

Service users would be offered alternative community council provision, or private, voluntary, or independently operated day centres. 

Phase three would take six months and involve the consolidation of remaining services at Alderbrook (High Peak), No Limits (Chesterfield), Outlook (Erewash) and Parkwood (Amber Valley).

Following the 12-week consultation, a further report will be presented to Cabinet with options for the future of the service based on feedback received.

The current contract to run the service is due to end in March 2024. Everyone who currently receives the service will continue to do so while the consultation goes ahead.

The consultation will launch on Monday 28 March. Direct consultation will take place with people who currently use the service and a questionnaire for people to fill in will be made available on the county council’s website.

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