PROPOSALS will be considered by Hampshire County Council later this month to permanently close Firvale Residential Respite Unit in Basingstoke.

The unit, which provided overnight respite for children and young people with disabilities, is jointly operated with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT). Of the nine beds available, five were used for social care provision by the county council while HHFT accesses the other four for health needs.  

It has been temporarily closed since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020. The proposals come alongside recommendations for further targeted investment in a wide range of other services which more effectively meet the need for children’s respite care. 

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Since Firvale temporarily closed more than two and a half years ago, concerns have been raised about the impact of the new housing development around and close to the unit. The resulting loss of privacy has called into question the ongoing suitability of the site for those children accessing social care provision whose needs are significantly different to those supported by HHFT.  

For residential respite care to reopen at the unit, the county xouncil would be required to undertake essential building works, at a cost of at least £400,000, to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose. This is in addition to the annual cost of operating the service, which amounts to £900,000.  

Should the proposed permanent closure of Firvale be approved, children and young people would continue to have access to alternative respite care services, including: 

  • Overnight respite with other service providers - which maintains provision for children and young people, with better value for money, per bed per night
  • Respite care provided in the home of foster carers using Specialist Respite Care (‘Home from Home’)
  • Family breaks
  • The ‘Community Buddy’ scheme – where volunteers help children and young people with disabilities to access activities and groups in the community
  • Alternative services and interventions, such as support and intervention to tackle sleep issues, or behaviour management support, enabling a child or young person to remain at home
  • Technology Enabled Care – whereby technology solutions are implemented to help meet particular needs
  • Personal Budgets – where funds are transferred to families so that they can purchase appropriate equipment or services
  • Care Support hours which can be offered in the home or in the community
  • Support via a Direct Payment worker, either in the home or in the community

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The proposal for Firvale’s permanent closure follows a ten-week consultation at the start of this year, which sought views from families of children with disabilities, the wider public, members of staff and other stakeholders.  

A report outlining the responses to this consultation, and important considerations for the future of the unit, will be presented at the children and young people select committee on Monday, October 17.

A final decision will then be made by Cllr Roz Chadd, deputy leader of Hampshire County Council and executive lead member for children’s services, at her decision day on Wednesday, October 19.