Two care centres funding in jeopardy
Whitehaugh and West Lane Gardens to learn fate
Jack Thomson Local Democracy Reporter Funding is “unlikely” to continue for two learning disability day centres, a board has heard.
Capability Scotland services in Paisley’s Whitehaugh and Johnstone’s West Lane Gardens – which offer support and activities to people with learning disabilities – could now stop at the end of March.
Council cash had been found to keep them open during the last year, while self-directed support budgets were put in place for every person using the service.
These budgets allow people to make choices on how their own care needs are met.
However, members of Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board (IJB) do not expect funding for the centres to continue into the next financial year.
Dr Donny Lyon, the board’s chair, said on Friday: “I would assume that funding is unlikely to be available next year but I think people need certainty in that regard.
“At this level we have always been clear that Capability Scotland were going to withdraw providing these services.
“The council agreed to fund that service for another year to allow people more time.
“The view around this table was that services wouldn’t be there from March onward.”
The local authority had committed funding to the day centres in this year’s budget to allow Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership time to develop a needs-assessed plan for every service user.
The centres have been popular among families supporting people with learning disabilities.
Helen Allison has previously spoken of how her daughter has benefited from the service in Whitehaugh for more than 15 years.
She credited the centre for giving her “confidence and happiness”.
In September Councillor Derek Bibby, whose ward covers Johnstone’s West Lane Gardens, had called for an end to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the centres, which he said do “fantastic work”.
While, board members conceded it was unlikely that funding would continue, a decision won’t be taken until the administration’s budget setting process in March.
At the IJB on Friday, officers and councillors recognised moving to selfdirected support would be a significant transition for some.
Vice-chair of the board Councillor Jacqueline Cameron, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, said: “I would like some reassurance that when people are looking at one-to-one selfdirected support that this is taken into account.”