A “lifeline” respite service for children with disabilities remains closed six months after shutting for ‘four weeks’.
Nearly 200 children remain on a waiting list for short breaks in the borough, with some waiting since January 2020, according to a report discussed at Knowsley Council tonight.
Fullerton Grove in Huyton provided short break respite for children in Knowsley until the council announced a temporary closure in September 2021 while it recruited for a new manager.
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In October, after a manager had still not been found, Knowsley Council extended the closure of the home. Ofsted then placed a condition that it could only reopen once a suitable manager had been approved by the watchdog.
The service had been beset by staffing issues throughout the pandemic which had led to last minute cancellation of stays and complaints by frustrated parents.
At a meeting of the borough’s children’s scrutiny committee tonight, March 17 officers said that while a manager has now been recruited the service is not yet ready to reopen because they are yet to be vetted by Ofsted.
In a report produced ahead of the meeting, it stated that a manager had been recruited in February and human resources checks carried out. However Ofsted had previously told the council they would need three months to carry out the approvals process.
The situation has left families being offered alternative provision by the council. This has involved either the use of a direct payments budget – where families can contract a provider of their choice to provide flexible care or support – or the offer of placements out of borough.
According to head of inclusion Mike Wharton, while some families have found the alternative provision more flexible and better suited to their needs, the closure of Fullerton Grove has left others “very upset and unhappy.”
Assistant executive director of children’s social care and targeted services, Lara Wood said: “We’re now in the process of reopening, we’ve given Ofsted the notification and have to give that minimum three months notification.”
A visit to the home would also need to be carry out by the watchdog, which Ms Woods says is likely to take place in April.
Discussing the borough’s wider short breaks service, officers said that following a tendering service last year, there are now several new short breaks offerings, by Merseyside Youth Association and Endorphins Group, with those services due to start from April.
The council currently provides short breaks for around 120 children in Knowsley and expects this demand to increase by up to 20% in coming years. There are at present also nearly 200 children on a waiting list for short breaks, with some having been on that list since January 2020.
Cllr Harry Bell asked what was being done to address the waiting list and what effect the lack of short breaks was having on families in the borough. Responding, commissioning manager Jill O’Neill said the new service coming into effect in April will increase the number of placements available. Ms O’Neill said the council was also working with providers through a small grants programme for them to deliver non commissioned short breaks.
She said: “We do have a short breaks officer in contact with people on the waiting list to see what’s happening with them and if their needs are escalating they can be moved to the children’s disability team.” Families could then be offered the possibility of making use of direct payments as an alternative.
Cllr Cath Golding asked whether the council was missing children in need of short breaks. Head of service inclusion Mike Wharton said that parent carer forums are only reaching half of the families of children with SEN. He said: “We do need to expand our communication strategy to reach those messages out.”
Officers said the council was also looking for ways to encourage market growth in the care sector as families making use of the direct payment scheme reported at times being unable to find any provider in the borough for the care they required.
