Plans to abolish community coordinators look set to be approved by the Isle of Wight Council — despite claims the service saves the authority money.
Opposition councillors last night (Tuesday) questioned the cabinet about the recommendation to axe the service next March, and to accept no more new referrals from this Thursday.
Currently, 600 people are using the service, which supports people in the community and aims to prevent the need for further adult social care intervention.
Move users to other services
Revised recommendations state the council would review all active cases and transition users to other services.
The Living Well service would be expanded with a review of the Local Area Coordinator (LAC) service overseen by cabinet member, Clare Mosdell.
Scrutiny: Put decision on hold
Scrutiny councillors voted to recommend to cabinet the proposals had not been drawn up based on full evidence, and the decision should be put on hold.
Leader of the Isle of Wight council, Cllr Dave Stewart, said the LAC service was only used by seven per cent of councils in the UK.
Davison: Four to one return on investment
Newchurch chair and Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils representative, Cllr June Davison, said:
“A new study published by Southampton Solent University has said for every pound invested, four pounds are saved for the Isle of Wight Council.”
Love: Find the money from somewhere else
The service is funded from the public health budget, costing £400,000 a year. Isle of Wight Council chief executive, John Metcalfe, said this budget had been reduced by £600,000 since 2015.
Cllr Karl Love said:
“We have not heard any criticism from anyone about this service. If we wanted to find the money, we would find the money from somewhere else.”
Cllr Debbie Andre said:
“This vital service, it’s possible for it to be self-funded but if the service is closed, it will just stop.”
Mosdell: Can’t change licence
Cllr Clare Mosdell said:
“What we are really looking for here is community resilience.
“The LAC is a licence, it can’t be manipulated in the way you want, it can’t be tweaked.
“When other services were set up around the country, they knew how they were going to be community funded, perhaps with money from the police and so on. But we can’t go back to those people again because they have already asked.”
Mosdell: Savings will go to other services
Cllr Mosdell said no savings would be taken from the public health budget, but the money saved would be put into other services — including sexual health and drug and alcohol services.
She said:
“What we need to look at doing is being decent human beings. We need to build community.”
Community Catalysts: Guidance not licence
Chief executive of Community Catalysts — which hosts the national network of LAC programmes — Sian Lockwood said the service did not operate under a licence.
She said:
“It is just guidance. We would not kick the Isle of Wight out of the service if they wanted to change the terms of operation.
“However, the guidance given is to ensure best practice and getting the most value for money.
“These LACs are embedded in the community and are able to reach and help people who otherwise might not be accessing services. Other services recommended by the council are different, and might not be able to reach people with really complex needs.”
Community Catalysts: Long-term savings
Ms Lockwood said the service saved the council money in the long run, as it helped people before they reached the point of medical intervention.
She said:
“It helps out people who, in three years time perhaps, without support, will crash into service, perhaps they will have a mental health breakdown, and will suddenly be relying on services.”
Mosdell: “Limited amount of money available”
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Mosdell said no vulnerable Islanders would be abandoned by the council, following the removal of the service.
She said:
“There is a limited amount of money available. I am really looking to build that community resilience.”
Mosdell: ‘Poetic license’ used by Community Catalysts
She said a certain amount of ‘poetic license’ had been used by Community Catalysts and invited them to expand on their figures — which claim the service has saved each authority £500,000.
She said:
“At the end of the day, the study was based on 21 people, and I have to look after 140,000 Islanders.”
Opposed by Ryde Town Council
Island Labour Chair and Ryde Town Councillor (where on Monday, all but the three Conservatives present (Cllrs Whittle, Chapman and Axford) supported a motion opposing the cuts), Julian Critchley, said,
“This is a classic example of the Tories knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. At every Ryde Town Council meeting, we hear of the issues caused by homelessness, substance addiction, family destitution and vulnerable people who are struggling to cope, having had their support removed by this awful government.
“The Local Area Co-ordinators are one of the last sources of support which help people avoid falling through the cracks, which would cause huge – and expensive – future issues for themselves, their children and the wider community. Now the very same Tories who sit in council meetings professing their concern for these issues are proposing to remove this last ditch support. It would be ridiculous if it weren’t so tragic.
“The cost to all of us of having to deal with the very real consequences of removing the lifeline of LACs from vulnerable Islanders will far outweigh the cost of maintaining the programme. The Tory councillors must think again. Through their endless cuts, they are tearing at the very fabric of our communities.”
Andre: “Service could become self-funding”
Following the meeting Cllr Andre said,
“The Local Area Coordinator Service has been running on the Island for the last three years. The service has become embedded in communities across the Island.
“A service such as this takes time to build up trust amongst those who come to rely on this service which is ‘cradle to grave’, unlike any other current provision.
“One of the recommendations from Cllr Mosdell is to cease the referral of any new cases with immediate effect. This could leave some residents with no option for support at an early stage of need which could result in intervention becoming necessary at a later stage when that individual could be at an acute stage of crisis requiring more costly services.
“This seems paradoxical for an administration which says that it has a policy of early intervention and a false economy, bearing in mind that the reasoning behind axing this vital service is to save money.
“Given a grace period of 12 months, it’s possible that this service could become self-funding, potentially as a Community Interest Company, but once the service is lost that won’t be an option.”
The plans will go before cabinet on Thursday.
Article edit
9.45: Comment from Julian Critchley added
2.35: Comment from Debbie Andre added
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which OnTheWight is taking part in. Some additions by OnTheWight. Ed
