Council to invest in new and improved day care and expanded overnight respite facilities to support adults with complex needs and disabilities

The new service model will ensure that we have the right balance of different types of services delivered in our communities, alongside services from buildings, to meet need now and for the future. This includes providing high quality building-based facilities within reasonable distance for the smaller number of adults with complex needs for whom building-based care is essential.

The current service model is outdated with an over-reliance on building-based care that is underused in many locations. Data showed that in recent years, use of many of the council-run day centres has dramatically fallen, while the level of community-based and partner-led provision available has grown, both in number and popularity.

The council carried out a comprehensive 15-week consultation over the proposed changes and the feedback received was used to design the new care model.

Isobel Darby, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing, explained: “Throughout this process we have kept our service users and their families at the heart of our approach. As a carer myself, I fully understand how important this provision and these facilities are to our communities. It was therefore very important to us to ensure we listened closely to the thoughts and views of those who use these services so we could ensure that any new model would continue to meet their needs and give them access to the right level of support they require.”

Isobel continued: “As a result of the feedback received, we have changed the original proposal to close Seeleys House and have instead decided to keep this facility open. We are grateful to everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation. We always listen closely, and this example shows that by listening and working together, we can create a high-quality service that fully meets the needs of all our residents. Crucially, this is also about looking at a model that provides best value for money for all Buckinghamshire residents and taxpayers. Today’s decision means we can keep looking after the adults who need these services whilst directing funds away from buildings that are being under-used and back into other services that are also very important to our residents.”

In the meeting today, the following recommendations were agreed:

• Support for adults with multiple and complex needs will be provided at four existing, upgraded council run sites: Aylesbury Opportunities Centre, Chesham Day Centre, Spring Valley Day Centre (High Wycombe) and Seeleys House.
• The opening of a new, specialist overnight respite centre for adults under 65 in Aylesbury to provide better geographical coverage across the county, alongside the existing facility in Beaconsfield (Seeleys House).
• Setting up a dedicated learning disabilities team in adult social care to enhance specialist support.
• Repurposing of the Buckingham Day Centre for use for up to 30 young adults with special educational needs and disabilities.

The existing centres - Hillcrest Day Centre, Buckingham Day Centre and Burnham Day Centre - will close, however, all adults currently supported from these sites will continue to receive suitable alternative care and support.

Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council said: “We know that some people may be concerned about the changes we are making but I want to reassure everyone that we will work closely with those affected, to ensure that all needs are met and with minimum disruption. The council will continue to provide care and support for all adults at the centres to be closed. All adults affected can be supported at a retained council centre.”

Steven added: “This new model ensures we have a service that empowers people to live well in their communities. I’m delighted that we are investing approximately £1.7 million in improved facilities for our most vulnerable adults in the county, through upgrading our current centres; and including setting up a new additional overnight respite facility in Aylesbury.”

The changes will be phased. The new service model will be in place by June 2026 with the new overnight respite facility planned to be opened in summer 2027.