“Thorough” public consultation into day care centre provision to be held

A new public consultation into the future of day care centres is set to launch, Caerphilly County Borough Council has confirmed.

Currently, day care centres are operating on a limited basis due to Covid restrictions currently in place, which has drawn fierce criticism from carers and opposition parties.

But Councillor Shayne Cook, Cabinet Member for Social Care, has said the new consultation will be “more thorough and will focus on the user, as well as their families and carers”.

He added: “We appreciate the strength of feeling in the community about this much-valued service, so it is vitally important that we listen to the views of our residents.”

The additional public consultation will delay the timeframe for decisions made on the future of day centres.

The council have said they will also be aiming to open another two day centres shortly, but did not name them.

Cllr Cook added: “We know that some people require more support and we will look to provide this as soon as capacity permits.

“However, it is important to stress that coronavirus remains a real threat, so unfortunately we are not able to reopen day centres in the same way as we did before the pandemic due to Welsh Government regulations, risk assessments and being able to safely operate the facilities while making sure we protect users and staff.

“We will provide updated information and answers to frequently asked question on our website.”

On September 23, the Plaid Cymru group tabled a motion for the council to delay the decision on day centres and listen to carers and service users.

Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Colin Mann welcomed the consultation, but said: “This smacks of an attempt by Labour to save face over a deeply flawed process.”

Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr Kevin Etheridge, said: “I am very pleased the council has listened to the strength of feeling from carers and users. We can all move forward together in reaching a solution which will be welcomed by all residents and our vulnerable in the County Borough, and be pleased common sense has prevailed.”

The issue has also been raised in the Senedd by Plaid Cymru.

In a joint-statement, the two Plaid Cymru Senedd Members for South Wales East – Peredur Owen Griffiths and Delyth Jewell – welcomed the consultation and said: “This is welcome news for disabled adults, their families and the dedicated staff within the day centres. The council has correctly recognised that their consultation on this vital service was inadequate and failed to take into account the views of the people that were most affected by a withdrawal of services.

“If a proper consultation is carried out and the true weight of feeling within the county borough is measured, then we are confident that the council will have no choice but to jettison their plans and find a way to work with families to increase provision providing it is safe under coronavirus restrictions.”

Mr Griffiths and Ms Jewell said they will be keeping a “close eye” on this issue.

A previous public consultation held by the council on the issue was criticised by carers.

Mark Robotham, whose disabled son Michael attends Brooklands day centre in Risca, described the survey that was sent out to carers as “insulting”.

Mr Robotham said he had seen an 80% reduction in social care hours for his son and is considering moving him to residential care due to this.

Mr Robotham added: “Carers have been told that day services are being modernised, a reduction in day support is not a modernisation, I feel it is a return to Dickensian times.”