Consultation with staff 13/9/07

Questions asked – and answers given

1. Will there be permanent beds or shared care beds?

The short break unit will have 12 beds for children and young people, which each can use for a few day each time, so over 100 children will use the unit in the course of a year. The 14-18 unit it will be for young people who are staying for a year or more, so the unit will become their home for up to 4 years.

2. What will happen with emergencies?

Neither of these units are expected to be used for emergencies, because they are for planned care.

3. What specialist input will there be?

Specialist nurses, doctors , psychologists, speech therapists, etc will be available as they are at present. We are going to write a clear plan for the care services, and will consider in this process what specialist staff might be needed.

4. Will the short break unit  provide support for children with learning disabilities?

Yes.

5. Will the short breaks unit  provide  support for children with no learning disabilities but severe physical disabilities?

Yes.

6. Are there any other cities that have created a 14-18 unit for young people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour already?

I am still researching this.

7. How will you replace  the independent flat at Broom Court?

Three beds will be set aside to be a self help unit, with their own kitchen, lounge and entrance.

8. From a staff point of view, how will personal security of non-car users on the night shift be ensured?

These issues will be addressed through the process Human Resources uses when a workplace moves.

9. Could service design be improved through more daytime and teatime visits when introductions are made?

This can be addressed through the planning for care services, and this is a helpful suggestion.

10. What is the division between those with physical disabilities and learning disabilities?

In planning short breaks for young people there will be the intention to enable groups of young people who can enjoy each others company to share time together, matching for issues such as age and interests.

11. Will the service include the flexibility to move 17-18 year olds to adult provision?

The 14-18 provision will be part of a planned pathway to adult services, and will enable the young people have a well planned timely move on.

Welcome to leeds4disabledchildren!

This weblog is to record the whole process of consultation about building two new units for disabled children in Leeds, and I want to involve and welcome readers comments and input into the process. The units are a new eight bedded resource for young people 14 to 18 with learning disability and challenging behaviour, and a 12 bedded short breaks unit for disabled children and young people between 6 and 18, which will replace the current resource at Broom Court.

So far we have held three consultation events for staff, parent/carers and stakeholders, and four sessions for children and young people who use the existing service. The questions asked at these consultations have been kept, and will be published soon together with responses and answers, which you can then respond to and raise further questions through this blog, and future meetings.