Day opportunities in Kirklees

Summary

Many older people, and people with physical or learning disabilities, take part in day services.

So why have we changed the name from day care services to day opportunities?

We have changed the name because we want to give people more choice and opportunities to get involved in activities and interests in their neighbourhood. We think day opportunities describe better the services we want to deliver in the future.

We wanted to know what you liked and disliked about the day services you have been getting. We asked you questions about getting involved in different activities and asked for your views on transport to new places and how services should be developed.

We have listened to everything you told us and we are trying to include as many of your ideas as possible in the changes taking place.

Q: Will we have local drop in centres?
A: Day opportunities will take place in your local neighbourhood and across Kirklees.
We are looking at how existing buildings are used and if they will be useful in the future. This is called the "building review". We don't want your activities isolated to where a building is because we think this will limit your choice and potential to stay healthy and independent.

This idea is set out in the "Have a Nice Day" report which talks about people with a learning disability.

Basically, we want you to be able to enjoy activities at the place where the activities happen.

Q: Will services be modern and purpose built?
A: Most of the current day services you are getting will be modernised and improved. There will also be new day opportunities at Highfields in Huddersfield with lots of new things to do. The Highfields building will be a new building. Building companies will be asked for their ideas and costs in summer.

We will also be looking at initially moving services from Swallow Court and Lindley to Highfields. We will keep you updated on this. We would also like to get some ideas about the name for the new building and will be asking you for your ideas soon.

Q: Will services meet our needs and can they be changed?
A: We want to improve our services and to do this we need to look at organising day opportunities over 7 days a week. We want to be able to give you new opportunities and some of these may be on a Saturday or Sunday or on an evening. We are looking at how we can make this possible.

Q: Will we minimise costs for services?
A: This is a hard question to answer at the moment, as the development of individualised budgets will effect the cost of services. We need to do more work on this but we will keep you updated.

Individualised budgets are at the centre of government policy for improving choice and control for people who use social care services. Potentially, all adults who use social care service could have control of their individual budgets to buy the services they need.

Q: You said you wanted more information about services and activities
A: The Government has set out standards for the changes to day services. These standards include providing information to let you know what is available and to who.

Can I get involved in the changes taking place?
We will give you and your carer the opportunity to get involved in some of the building work, including layout and interior design of buildings.

Please let us know if want to get involved by calling 01484 223015 or telling your support worker.

Many of you wanted to know if we will carry on working with other organisations. The answer to the question is yes and probably more so now than ever before. We will do some work with new partners, such as education to look at how our in-house services will be developed. We will also look at how we can work with independent organisations.

You said that you wanted us to carry on providing services for people with complex health needs.

You asked us to provide services such as aromatherapy and hydrotherapy.

Although these may not be part of our current in-house service at the moment they will be on offer from community organisations in the future. Day opportunities staff will be help you get these services if you need them.

You asked 'Will you provide employment opportunities with real wages'?

Employment is a big part of day opportunities for people with physical and learning disabilities. We are looking at how we can increase the number of people in paid employment and how day opportunities can support them.

You said that you wanted services tailored to meet your own needs.

All services and activities will be centred on people's individual needs. This is a very important part of all day opportunities.

You asked 'Will we keep and develop links with other agencies'?

These links are important to us. People who use our day services may move on to new day opportunities provided by voluntary and community organisations. Work has already taken place to develop more links but we know there is still a lot of work to be done.

You said you wanted drop in community services.

Some day opportunities may offer drop-in services in local community buildings, but this will no longer be a key part of day opportunities.

However where community drop-in centres already exist, we will continue to support people to use these services.

You said you wanted to take part in leisure services.

This is one of the key themes for day opportunities. We will make sure we provide a range of services, for example exercise groups, diet advice, health care information and support into health services.

We would also like to do some work around people's well-being. For example, when we notice someone is not feeling well we will work with staff from health services to try and make them feel better.

When we provide food as part of day opportunities we will try our best to make sure it is a healthy balanced meal.

You asked 'Will we be able to use leisure facilities'?

We will help you to take part in a wide range of leisure activities with the help of the voluntary and community sector.

We will make sure that resources, such as staff, are in place to meet your needs when using the service. Services will meet national minimum day service standards. Including having enough trained staff to meet your needs. We are also hoping to involve trained volunteers in day opportunities work.

You said you needed transport arrangements to suit your needs.

We always like to know what you think of the services we provide. To have your say and help us to develop our services so that they best meet your needs, please call 01484 226927, email: working.in.partnership@kirklees.gov.uk or write to:

Working in Partnership Team
FREEPOST RLTS-YERS-CXYA,
2 Market Street,
Huddersfield
HD1 2EH

Further information

For more information please call 01484 416679

In the meantime for further information please feel free to write to us at:
Kirklees Council Adult Service
Residential and Day Care
30 Market Street, 2nd floor
Huddersfield
HD1 2HG
Email daycare@kirklees.gov.uk

If you have any other health and social care questions, please call Gateway to care on 01484 223000, email: gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk

Carers can also contact Kirklees Council Carers Gateway on 01484 226050, email: carers.gateway@kirklees.gov.uk