When Cabinet meets on Wednesday 15 December it will consider the findings from the recent consultation to help inform and improve the delivery and engagement of meaningful day activities and opportunities for people in Walsall.
For people with a range of needs such as older people, people with dementia, people with learning or physical disabilities, sensory impairments, autism and mental health needs, having a purpose and being able to access a range of meaningful day activities and opportunities and community place is essential as part of day to day life.
The findings from Walsall Council’s comprehensive consultation recognised that for some people there will always be a need for building-based day service provision whereas for others they do not want or need want this type of support. The approach for all needs to be person-centred and should help them to develop and use their own strengths, ordinary opportunities and natural networks of support that help to maximise independence, community presence and identity.
People also said that although they do want to use more community based activities, there is a need for improved access and communication, better transport and improved facilities such as ‘changing places’ (accessible toilet facilities).
Parents and carers shared that it is important to them that the person they care for is in a safe place and that they are offered opportunities to make new friends, build independence and improve confidence in a community setting where suitable and available .
As a result of the findings and the work that is already being developed across internal departments of the council and its partners, Adult Social Care and Public Health will continue to encourage more opportunities with leisure and community provision to ensure the council can respond to what people have said is important to them. Public Health colleagues are also closely liaising with partners and organisations to develop opportunities for younger people. The work that has already been delivered across Adult social care so far will be key to some of those initiatives moving forward.
Councillor Keir Pedley, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care said, “The valuable feedback that has been gathered as part of this comprehensive consultation will help to inform decision-making and how we deliver support going forward.”
“The council wants to make sure that activities and opportunities are delivered in a way that is right for everyone and encourages greater independence, while making the best use of the resources available in local communities and making improvements to improve accessibility.”
“Walsall has a plethora of active community and voluntary organisations who already deliver many forms of meaningful day activities and will are encouraged and supported to enhance their offer providing local services for local people.”
The meaningful day services consultation was launched on 27 September and ended on 22 November and sought to seek views from a wide range of stakeholders in the Borough that either access community resources currently or may do in the future. Family members and carers have also been consulted as well as organisations that currently provide building based Day care –one type of day opportunity that people access across Walsall. Organisations that currently provide support held focus groups with the people who use their services to get feedback.
The consultation also sought the views of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 16 plus and their parents and carers. This is the first part of what will need to be ongoing engagement and options for future co-production of initiatives and opportunities for young people that focusses on independence, inclusion and an aspirational set of outcomes for young people and their network of support.
A variety of methods have been used to seek the views of a wide range of people throughout the consultation period. This included focus groups held both virtually and face to face, online surveys, printed surveys, easy read and bespoke versions to ensure that all of the people who wanted to be part of the consultation process had every opportunity to do so. A video was also commissioned for members of the Deaf community using BSL (British Sign Language).
