http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/news_and_events/latest_news/adult_...

Haringey Council is to consult the public over plans to close a number of adult social care services following Government-imposed cuts to the council’s budget.

The council needs to reduce its budget by over £80 million over the next three years following the central government cuts. Half of these savings, £41million, will have to be found in the next financial year, 2011/12, because of pressure to front-load the savings.

The consultation will run from 31 January to 30 April, to give people time to consider and respond to the proposals and to allow users and their families, where possible, to make alternative arrangements.

The proposals under consideration are to:

• close the four drop-in centres at Abyssinia Court, The Irish Centre, Willoughby Road and Woodside House.
• The plan is that this service would stop by 1 October, 2011
• close the Woodside Day Centre no later than 1 April, 2012
• close the Six8Four Centre no later than 1 April, 2012
• close The Haven no later than 1 April, 2012
• close the Alexandra Road Crisis Unit no later than 1 April, 2012
• close the Whitehall Street residential and respite care home no later than 1 April, 2012
• we are looking at the possibility of merging the services at The Grange and the Haynes Centre, to come into effect no later than 1 April, 2012
• N.B. The Haynes centre at Park Road Health Centre was newly opened in February 2010 at great public expense
• close the Red House residential care home no later than 1 April, 2013
• close Cranwood residential care home no later than 1 April, 2013
• close Broadwater Lodge residential care home no later than 1 April, 2013.

These are provisional dates and are subject to change.

There is no change to Haringey’s eligibility criteria to access adult social care services, so if a vulnerable adult is assessed as needing services s/he will continue to receive services.

Cllr Dilek Dogus, Cabinet Member for Adults and Community Services, said:

"We know the value and importance of these services to users but we have no alternative than to consider their potential closure as a result of the unprecedented Government’s cuts to our budget.

"However, it is very important for people to remember that vulnerable adults will continue to receive services if they need them, but, if these proposed closures go ahead, they will be offered in the independent sector. (The council is not saying where these services will be, in or out of the borough as they are not saying if they are selling the care homes as going concerns or as development opportunities i.e. to be knocked down and built upon)

All the services that Haringey buys in the independent sector are quality rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as excellent or good. The residential care we buy is rated as the best in London.

"We are committed to involving users of services, relatives and carers in making decisions about the care they or their loved ones receive and to provide services according to changing needs.

"Only after we have had an opportunity to fully consider the views of local people will any final decision be taken."

Copies of the consultation document will be distributed at the services affected. For more information about the consultation, visit the budget consultation page.

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/index/social_care_and_health/services-fo...

Budget consultation - Consultation proposal

Haringey Council wants to understand the views of the families and users of its drop-ins, day centres and residential homes – as well as voluntary, statutory and other service providers - about proposed changes to the delivery of adult social care and the closure of day centres, drop-ins and residential and respite care homes, and the Alexandra Road Crisis Unit. This fact sheet in the attached files section below explains and encourages you to have your say on the proposed changes to the future of the council's day and drop-in centres, residential and respite care homes for older people and people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and the Alexandra Road Crisis Unit. Consultation with those affected will help councillors make difficult yet informed choices when they make their final decisions sometime in July 2011.

 How can I have my say?

Formal consultation of all areas is included in the Council's Consultation Calendar.

There are online questionnaires covering four consultations that can be found on the following pages

• Proposed closure of day care centres
• Proposed closure of drop-in centres
• Proposed closure of residential care homes and bed based respite se...
• Proposed closure of the Alexandra Road Crisis Unit

The feedback from the consultation will be made available on this webpage. For more information please:
Tel: 020 8489 1400
Email: FeedbackandSupportforAdults@haringey.gov.uk

If you prefer to write to us, the address is:

Feedback and support for adults
3^rd Floor
40 Cumberland Road
Wood Green
N22 7SG

All comments and feedback received will be recorded and summarised in a detailed report that will be presented to Cabinet and full Council (these are the Council's decision making bodies) and will be taken into account in their considerations before any final decision is made.