The move away from traditional day centre to a ‘hub and spoke’ model for the county continues with enforced lockdown seeing sites closed or repurposed.

A consultation on changes to day service provision for elderly and disabled people was held in 2019 and a new model of service has been “co-produced” with users and others to provide opportunities based on common interests and not just shared disabilities or diagnosis.

Private company Peopletoo received £17,092.80 for “consultancy work” a local democracy reporting service FOI revealed in 2019.

Head of adult services Jason Bennett updated the social care overview and scrutiny committee on progress, which had been impacted by the covid-19 lockdown.

A decision on whether there will be two or four hubs in the new model, with satellite provision in communities, was yet to be made and work was underway assessing current buildings for suitability and the level of investment required, the committee heard.

It aims to provide a more flexible service, with more variety, more access closer to home with more ‘meaningful activity’ and employment.

Cleddau River Day Unit has been turned into an additional hospital ward during the pandemic and outreach support has been offered to those impacted by the closure of centres and restrictions on communal activities.

Mr. Bennett said that welfare calls were made to users and carers throughout lockdown as well as activity packs and the alternative use of community facilities which was already being developed as part of the new model.

He highlighted the use of Bro Preseli in a Crymych ‘bubble’ which had been received positively by people with a learning disability locally, and their parents and carers.

Implementation of model design, digital support, workforce, accommodation and transport, as well as links to the community hub set up at the start of lockdown and improving direct payment uptake formed the next steps.

“There will be a reduction in centres, there’s no hiding from that,” said Mr. Bennett, adding in some cases there were two “segregated” centres which people did not want but there would be some centre based offer for those that need it.

Conclusions 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us and has created particular challenges for the way we deliver day services, the work done coproducing a new model of service placed us in a good position to offer alternative solutions during the enforced closure of communal activity area such as day centres.

Three case studies are included in the report, highlighting the support received and the positive impact it had during lockdown, including a statement from learning disability champion James Tyler who has got a paid job.

“Now I can do some paid work I feel I have a good purpose to be in the world and I thank all the people who helped support me to this point,” he adds.