Proposal for future of council day centre agreed
The council’s Cabinet has approved the proposal to close the Markhouse Centre in Walthamstow next year, with alternative person-centred support to be put in place based on residents’ individual needs. The proposal was agreed following consultation undertaken with service users, carers and staff during the summer.
The council’s overall vision for adult social care is to provide support tailored to individual needs, strengths, and aspirations, moving away from a building-based approach.
The day centre currently provides support to 51 adults with learning disabilities who regularly attend the service. The number of referrals to the Markhouse Centre has declined as more people are attending alternative provisions. Seven people have been placed at the Markhouse Centre since 2022, with only one so far in 2024.
A review of day opportunities services found that Markhouse Centre is in poor condition, and an independent building survey identified it would require investment of £1.2m to make it fit for purpose. The current annual operating budget for the centre, which includes ongoing maintenance costs, is £1.72m in 2024/2025.
The decision to close the building means the council will now focus on person-centred support to meet the needs of residents, which also offers better value for money and will help to address the significant financial challenges the council faces.
The council will work with service users, carers and staff towards a closure date in June 2025, with support for the transition being put in place. This will take into account the diverse needs of residents and their parents and carers, including considering cultural needs and existing friendships. Every person who attends the Markhouse Centre will have a needs assessment carried out and offered suitable alternative support.
Cllr Louise Mitchell, Member for Adults and Health said, “We recognise the positive impact the Markhouse Centre has had on residents that attend and understand that this decision will be difficult for people who have a connection to the centre. We are committed to supporting residents to have a good quality of life and putting in place the support that they need. We believe moving to a person-centred approach is the best way we can do that, while providing value for money so we can continue to provide help to everyone who needs it.
“With the significant financial challenges the council is facing and the increased demand and costs for services, we have to make tough decisions. The Markhouse Centre is no longer suitable and would require significant investment. Even with this investment it would not address fundamental issues with the building, or the ongoing maintenance required.
“We will do everything we can to make sure that all service users are supported as they transition to new services, respecting their needs and preferences, and we will be communicating closely with the people who use the centre and their families to carry out needs assessments and share support offers. A key focus during this process will be on friendships within the centre: as well as doing our best to help friends transition together to future services wherever possible, we'll look for ways to continue friendships outside the centre and help foster new ones.”
During the consultation 70 service users and parents/carers completed the survey. Six drop-in sessions were held, in person and online, and interpreters and support from advocacy organisations Carers First and PohWER were made available to all. Full detail of this can be read in the Cabinet report and consultation responses.
The council is currently forecasting the need to make savings of between £18m and £24m over the next three years. At the same time, the costs of adult social care, children’s services and temporary accommodation continue to rise: the number of people needing council services for adult social care has risen by nearly 1,000 since 2019, up to more than 3,500. In the same period, average weekly costs of social care rose by 24 per cent. The 2 per cent ringfenced Council Tax increase that can only be used for adult social care is not keeping pace with increasing costs and demand for services. In this difficult financial position, it is essential that the council chooses the most cost-effective way to continue providing vital services.