Respite care provision for families and young adults with complex needs including supplementary questions

4.2   Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding respite services for families and young adults with complex needs:

Can the Minister advise whether a need for additional funding has been identified for respite services for families and young adults with complex needs and advise what contingency plans, if any, have been made for when the present contract with Highlands Luxury Care Home terminates on 31st May this year?

Deputy A.E. Pryke of Trinity (The Minister for Health and Social Services):

I met with the service users and their families at the end of last year to discuss their views on respite services going forward. I take their views very seriously and intend to involve them fully in any decisions that are made in the future. Highlands Luxury Care Home is just one of the providers who support adults with complex needs and their families. Our partnership with Autism Jersey and Les Amis, to name but 2, provides a vital role in providing support. An additional £120,000 has been identified from the White Paper for short-break respite for children and their families and this is not a one-size-fits-all service. Packages need to be designed around the specific needs of the individual. Last year we tendered for short-break providers so that we have more choice and we also help families design bespoke care packages for children and adolescents with complex needs. Like the children's respite service, the adult service will be open to tender and the aim is that there will be no break in service when the existing contract ends. The intention is to have a range of service providers to offer choice to service users and the families will be an active part of the selection process.

1. Deputy M. Tadier :

I hope that selection process and tender process will allow for stability and security for parents and users. Will the Minister accept that there is currently an insufficient capacity at Highlands Care Home and that the 4 beds, 2 of which were supposed to be nursing and 2 non-nursing, have effectively reduced to 3 because one is being used for a permanent client and therefore even more pressure is being put on those parents and clients who would wish to use that very valuable respite? If she does, what action will she take?

The Deputy of Trinity :

We always want to make sure that we have bespoke services around each individual and that is why this tender process is important. I am very pleased that the service users and their families are involved right from the very beginning. I understand that they have a draft S.L.A. (service level agreement) with them now and one of the commissioners is going to meet with them tomorrow to go through their thoughts and experiences of the S.L.A. to make sure that we have it right going forward.

2. Deputy J.A. Hilton of St. Helier :

Can the Minister inform Members when the department intends to reinstate long-weekend and short-break respite for young adults with complex needs? Also, can she give Members an assurance that those 12 young people who will be in transition from children to adults in the next 3 years will be well catered for with regard to respite?

The Deputy of Trinity :

Yes, I would like to reassure the Deputy . That is why it is very important that service users are included right at the very beginning of putting together what the needs are, as well as the service level agreement, and also being part of a tender panel. I know that the Special Needs Advisory Panel is a representative of the voice of the people with learning difficulties and they meet very regularly with the service users.

3. Deputy J.A. Hilton:

Could the Minister just confirm when the short breaks will be reinstated for users? The Deputy of Trinity :

At this moment in time I cannot give her that information but I will come back to her.

4. Deputy J.G. Reed of St. Ouen :

Could the Minister confirm whether all young people with complex needs are provided with bespoke care packages and, if so, whether that is extended to those that suffer with mental health issues?

The Deputy of Trinity :

It is all based on individual needs and working with their parents and with the service users too. That is the most important way as we go forward. A lot of investment has been placed and it is important that we get it right for each individual.

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

The question that I asked the Minister was specific in that I asked her whether she could confirm whether all young people with complex needs are provided with bespoke care packages. It is basically a yes or no answer.

The Deputy of Trinity :

If that is what the way forward is for them. As I said, each individual is managed through a proper adult social worker team and a respite care co-ordinator to make sure that it is the right thing for them, be it respite care or be it outreach in their own homes.

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

Please would the Minister respond with the answer yes or no? The Deputy of Trinity :

It is not as simple as that because with service users and families everyone is an individual, so from that point I suppose, yes, but not everyone has the same.

The Deputy of St. Ouen :

So would the Minister confirm the answer is no? The Bailiff :

I think the Minister has addressed it.

5. Deputy M.R. Higgins:

Will the Minister acknowledge that some of the cases she is aware of at the present time and have been outlined are just the tip of the iceberg and that many families are suffering behind the scenes and quietly? Will she say whether she thinks £120,000 of extra money is going to be sufficient to meet the pent-up demand that there is for this vital service?

The Deputy of Trinity :

The £120,000 is extra to the children's respite service, so it brings us to £600,000, plus the care in Oakwell, Eden House and the Haven. There is an extra £500,000 for adult respite care and just over another £500,000 for older respite care, plus day centres and community care.

6. Deputy M.R. Higgins:

Can the Minister say whether she does believe that what we are seeing at the moment is only the tip of the iceberg and what steps she is taking to communicate and contact the families who are in need of this care?

[10:00]

The Deputy of Trinity :

Will there be enough? I would have thought perhaps not going into the future and that is why we must always continue to look forward. Another way we are looking forward is working with Housing for another residential unit that will be up and running next year. I have forgotten the first part of the question. I am sorry. Yes, working with others. A lot of work has been done under the chairmanship of Senator Routier. As I said, there is a Special Needs Advisory Panel that is a representative voice of the people with learning difficulties and their families. Also there is a service users' forum as well.

7. Deputy M. Tadier :

We seem to be in the same situation as 3 years ago where Oakwell was the case in point and now exactly the same thing seems to be happening at Highlands Care Home. Can I ask the Minister will she meet with the Minister for Treasury and Resources and other Ministers to identify, first of all, what the funding gap is and identify significant funds, not simply the £120,000 that keeps us treading water but to identify meaningful funds so that significant provision and improvement can be made in the area of respite care for these parents who seem to be going through the same problems year in, year out without any effective government response to resolve the underlying issue of bed space and respite provision?

The Deputy of Trinity :

I am happy to meet with any Minister, including the Minister for Treasury and Resources. A lot of work is going to still continue to be done in partnership with these families. I met them only before Christmas to look forward to how we can help these young families as they get older. As I said, there is a service users group as well as the Special Needs Advisory Panel. Senator Routier has set up a disability panel. Their voice is being heard.