News / Social Care
Budget cuts planned to day centres for elderly and disabled
Budget cuts are planned to day centres and respite services for elderly and disabled people in Bristol, saving £900,000.
Bristol City Council will review these social care services as part of plans to save more than £8 million from the department’s budget in the next financial year.
More than 5,000 elderly and disabled people receive care paid for by the council, either partly or in full.
Demand is rising, both in numbers of people and how much care they each need. From April to March next year, the council plans to spend £221 million on adult social care.
An update was given to the strategy and resources policy committee on Monday.
The committee signed off the council’s budget, which will likely be approved by councillors on February 12.
However a lack of public engagement in the budget was criticised.
Labour councillor for Hillfields Ellie King said: “There were some pretty carefully chosen words which didn’t necessarily get across what was being proposed. Does that mean we’re proposing to close a day centre?
“It was probably most pronounced in adult social care, where it was quite unclear phrasing that was used. But it was a general thing throughout the consultation.”
Day centres provide “meaningful activities” for adults with additional needs.
According to the budget documents, council staff will “look at what people need, the services we provide and how we deliver them. Our aim is to make sure the right services are in place, provided consistently and accessible to everyone”.
This is estimated to save £600,000 over the next two years.
Respite care, meanwhile, gives planned short breaks for carers and the people they support.
The review will explore where savings can be made.
This is estimated to save £250,000 next year.
The council will consult the public on the upcoming reviews.
Overall the adult social care department is aiming to make £8.4 million savings in between April and March next year.
The department is still under financial pressure, as people’s care needs are becoming more complex, costs are rising and the number of working-age adults with disabilities is shooting up.
After the meeting, Lorraine Francis, the Green councillor for Eastville and chair of the adult social care policy committee, said: “By focusing on prevention and supporting vulnerable adults to be as independent as possible for as long as possible in their own homes and communities, the council is reducing our costs while also improving the quality of life of those who need care.
“And by increasing our own in-house provision for supported housing, we will enable people to stay in Bristol without throwing council taxpayers’ money at expensive private care companies.
“Over the last several years Adult Social Care has improved performance and strengthened our workforce, with Ofsted referring to us as ‘safe, effective and well-led’.
“We will continue to push for improvement so that everyone who reaches out receives the support that they need.”
Last month councillors heard how care companies are struggling with inflation.
Two firms have “handed back” care packages to the council, saying they can’t afford to look after people.
More companies are expected to struggle in the near future, too, due to pay rises, tax rises and people’s care needs becoming more complex and expensive to look after.
Main photo: Susie Long
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