Ongoing support planned as Day Opportunities provision changes

Meeting on Monday, Cabinet Members backed a proposal that ensured additional time has been built-in to ensure a smooth transition for service users to continue to access Day Opportunities as close to their homes as possible.

There was a strong emphasis that nobody who attends Anchorage, Bro Preseli or Lee Davies would be left without provision following the changes and there will be continued work with service users and their families going forward.

Consultation in 2019 with service users, stakeholders and partners had looked to develop a new model for Day Opportunities in Pembrokeshire and since Covid there has been a substantial fall in the number of people attending Day Centres.

A more sustainable means of supporting day opportunities for older people and people with disabilities were set out in the Council’s 24/25 budget setting process.

The Council has proposed to exit service level agreements with the Bro Preseli Day Centre in Crymych and the Lee Davies Day Centre in Narberth in favour of a social enterprise model.

These social enterprise models have followed a lengthy period of working with partners and will allow flexibility of service provision and further strengthen links between PCC and the Third Sector.

The reconfiguration of Day Opportunities will, however, result in the closure of the Anchorage Day Centre, Pembroke Dock.

All people attending the Anchorage and their families have been involved in discussions relating to future Day Opportunities and chosen future options.

Meadow Park Day Centre has capacity to support all of the current service users from the Anchorage and direct transport will be provided to Meadow Park for those who wish to take up the opportunity,

Officers have also identified community based opportunities in Pembroke Dock.

Members backed the recommendation to close the Anchorage Day Centre with effect from 1^st November 2024 and establish social enterprise models in Bro Preseli and Lee Davies Day Centres from 1^st April 2025.

Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Safeguarding, said: “In Pembrokeshire, we want older people and people with disabilities to have a range of meaningful things to do, in their local communities that provides purpose, connection and where appropriate, progression.

“We have at every step tried to balance the needs of the service users and their families with the requirement for change and we will continue to support all service users as we go through this process.

“We have worked hard to identify alternative and suitable provision for all service users and put the direct bus in place from the Anchorage to Meadow Park after listening to feedback.

“I wish to emphasise that no service users will be left without provision following the decision here today and we will continue to work closely with everyone to ensure a positive outcome for all day opportunities users.”