Report due on changes to Barnsley Council's disability support scheme

A report is due to be presented to Barnsley Council chiefs outlining progress made on plans to change accommodation and support services for adults with learning disabilities in the borough.
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Members of the cabinet previously gave their approval to changes to the service delivery model and are due to learn about updates to how the authority hopes to further implement it at a meeting on July 1.

The updated report outlines how the current service is delivered by three externally contracted providers and around one third of the existing people are supported by the council run service.

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It states that the new model will be focused on “enabling people to progress to their full potential for independence and reduce the overall cost of these services.”

Members are informed that there are about 150 people in the existing standard supported living services and 21 people in high cost specialist residential care, 11 of whom are ‘out of area’. There are 130 staff in the council run service.

The report says that financial modelling of the impact of the new model compared to the costs of current services for these people over the next five years shows that costs of £2.9 million can be avoided if the whole service volume is tendered.

It is intended that the model will support people moving on from high-cost residential placements, as well as young people in transition from children’s services.

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A council spokesperson said following a thorough engagement process with staff and trade unions the in-house service has decided not to bid for any parts of the new service.

The procurement process will formally start this July and the contracts award will take place by November.