BATTLING TO SAVE DAY CENTRE
PARENTS FEAR FOR FUTURE IF THE AXE FALLS ON DAY CENTRE
PARENTS of a 32-year-old man who has complex needs are battling to keep open a day centre he attends, saying it should be celebrated as a “success story” rather than being closed.
Michael and Nicola Brooks, both 64, are fighting to prevent Roman Way Day Centre, in Market Harborough, from shutting.
Leicestershire County Council has announced it could be one of nine centres which may be closed to save money.
The nine centres offer support to 112 adults and their families, providing adults with complex health needs, such as learning difficulties and disabilities, with a place where they can enjoy social activities and get help with day-to-day life skills.
The centres also offer full-time carers, such as Michael and Nicola, a break from looking after their loved ones.
The potential changes could also impact Bridgeview, in Melton; The Trees, in Hinckley; Coalville Community Resource Centre; Hood Court, in Ashby; Timber Street, in South Wigston; Carlton Drive, in Wigston; Blaby Base, in Blaby; and Victoria & Carnegie Centre Community Life Choices, in Loughborough.
The Roman Way Day Centre has been a lifeline for Michael and Nicola and their son Joshua, who has severe learning difficulties and the mental age of a toddler.
He also has autism and high anxiety.
Joshua has been using the day centre for the past 10 years and Michael said it had been an “amazing” resource for the family, and was the best place for Joshua to attend.
He said: “Joshua’s physical health is good and we believe his emotional health is also very good because of their care and sensitivity to his needs, including his emotional needs.
“One of the things he really likes at the centre is some of the other centre users, so he enjoys the company of those who go and he shows that by standing near them, watching what they do.
“It’s those sort of things that we’re anxious about him losing. It’s taken him years, literally years, to begin to develop that peer group relationship.
“My son and his peers have no understanding of what is happening. It is heartbreaking.
“The centre is a success story. They should be celebrating it and inviting others to come and look at it and see how other people can come and replicate what they have instead of looking to close it down.”
Michael said the six hours Joshua spends at the day centre each day were also vital for him, as his son’s main carer, especially as his wife hurt her back a few years ago and can be limited in what she does.
He said: “Joshua only sleeps for four hours at a time. He’s determined to go to bed by no later than 9.30pm, so then I’m back with him usually around 1am.
“When he doesn’t go to the day centre I’m with him for approximately 20 hours every day.
“I’ve been going to him (during the night) every night for the past four or five years, so I retired early as I couldn’t do a job and spend all that time in the night with him.
“So, those six hours per day are really precious to us, really important to us and enable us to be adults, not just carers.”
The temporary closure of the centre during the Covid-19 lockdowns gave Michael a clear idea of the impact a permanent closure would have on his family.
“When he was stuck at home all through Covid, all I could do was walk him into town to sit on the bench in Market Harborough town square so he could watch the traffic,” Michael said.
“That was the best I could do. So for two hours every day, we would sit on that bench come rain, wind, snow, shine.”
‘NO DECISIONS MADE AS YET’
The county council has launched a public consultation on the possible closures, and said no firm decisions had yet been made.
A spokesman said the authority was looking at replacing the centres with “independent sector provision at other locations” or other “appropriate alternative services”. These would still be funded by the council. Local authority day services for people in Leicestershire with health needs such as learning and physical disabilities and mental illness are known collectively as Community Life Choices.
A county council spokesman said: “We are pleased families value the support they receive through Community Life Choices.
“That’s why we want to hear from
When he doesn’t go to the day centre I’m with him for approximately 20 hours every day
Joshua’s dad, Michael
them regarding potential changes which could see more people getting help through the independent sector rather than from the council directly.
“We already pay for many families to get support from the independent sector and will continue to work with providers to ensure that we have appropriate service provision available.
“We have started a consultation, which runs until midnight on October 26, and we’ll use the responses from that to draw up proposals that will go to the council’s cabinet on December 14.
Before that point, it is too early to say how the service will be provided.
“We understand the sensitivity surrounding the consultation and would like to thank people for their feedback.
“We have been keeping the families affected informed at every step and whatever decisions are made they will be supported through any change.”
The spokesman added that a representative from the council had met the Brooks family to discuss their concerns with them. Michael said of the meeting: “We met the head of service, who seemed to listen well. He acknowledged our concerns that our son’s complex and challenging needs were currently being met. “He recognised that we had no desire for anything to change from current arrangements.
“He restated the council’s position: that the decision will be made by cabinet in December and that nothing is predetermined.”
■ Are you affected by the planned changes? What do you think of the council’s proposals? Share your thoughts with others by emailing us at:
We understand the sensitivity surrounding the consultation and thank people for their feedback
County council