Potential New Home for Learning Disability Respite Service

THE LOCATION of Reading Council’s Disability Respite Service is being reviewed with a view to moving the service to a more suitable home.

The respite service, currently based at 188 Whitley Wood Lane in south Reading, provides short term, overnight breaks for adults with a learning disability, which also provides some respite for their carers. At present there are nine people using the service throughout the year, mainly on a planned basis, but sometimes in an emergency. The current location of the service is no longer suitable, as the majority of the building is vacant. Only two people use the service any one time and this level of demand is unlikely to change. The proposal is now to relocate to a more suitable sized home, with improved accessibility, and to shape the future aspirations of the service going forward, as well as make better use of the Council owned building at 188 Whitley Wood. The consultation will seek people’s views on what they like and what they want from the service going forward to feed into potential options. This relocation is part of a wider review across Adult Social Care in order to ensure that services are sustainable and able to meet the need of our communities, now and in the future.

Cllr Tony Jones, Reading’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said:

“The review of the location of the Council’s Learning Disability Respite Service is an opportunity to improve facilities for people using the service, as well as make better use of a building that is greatly under-used at present. “We fully appreciate any change for vulnerable residents and their families can be daunting and Council officers will be working closely with the people who use this service and related service providers, on this review. “Despite the challenges we face financially as a Council, we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our community and to improving the services and facilities available. I’d encourage people with an interest in adult respite services to take part in this consultation, which launches today.” People and organisations directly affected by the changes, including service users and staff, will now be consulted on the review and on how they could be supported to transition to a new location. They are encouraged to share what they value from such a service in order to influence and shape the Council’s priorities for the respite service in the future. The Council also hopes to hear from residents and other stakeholders who have an interest in adult respite services in Reading. The consultation on these changes launches on Monday 19th November and will last for 6 weeks, ending Friday 28th December 2018. People can take part by visiting the consultation hub on the website www.reading.gov.uk/relocatingldrespite To request a paper copy, a large print version of this consultation or for help with completing it call 0118 937 4661 or email ldrespite.consultation@reading.gov.uk

Ends