Skip to Main Content

What has happened so far?

We have reviewed our respite opportunities services to help us develop a future vision for the development of respite services based on changing patterns of demand and our understanding of what is important to people. The review and its findings were planned to be presented to People Scrutiny Committee on 19th July 2023, however this was postponed.Members are keen to ensure that the voices of service users are heard as part of the scrutiny process and therefore agreed to postpone their consideration of the report to ensure that all those involved in the review and the wider public are afforded sufficient time to consider the information being presented.

The new date when the report will be presented to People Scrutiny Committee will be published on this page once it has been confirmed. 

The Scrutiny Report can be found here Scrutiny – Get Involved

Why did we do this?

The respite opportunities services was developed in 2011. Over that time the way that people use the respite services on offer has changed. We undertook a review so that we could understand patterns of demand in more detail and find out what was important to people and families who use respite services. Together, this helped us develop some proposals about the respite opportunities service which we believe would offer the best fit for the future – providing offer high quality support which offers choice and is cost effective.

What does this actually mean for services?

The ethos of the service will remain as before – a high quality flexible respite service that offers choice, meets people’s respite needs and supports individual outcomes. To achieve this moving forward, however; we are recommending some changes including:

  • Expanding short breaks/supported holidays particularly for people who are wheelchair users or have higher level care needs.
  • Refocussing the residential respite option so people can access support in a range of different homes in neighbouring counties and cease to provide residential respite at Budden Crescent.
  • Extending the availability of Shared Lives support to specifically enable people who are wheelchair users or have higher level care needs.
  • Developing a respite at home option for people who would prefer to remain at home when their family are away.
  • Promoting and increasing the uptake of Direct Payments for respite.
  • Developing a range of robust emergency respite options. 

How were people who use the service involved in the review?

There have been two engagement exercises with people who use the service and their families during the review process. In November 2022 people were asked their views on an initial draft review. In March 2023 people and families were provided with the final draft review report and were asked for their views on the draft recommendations.

What will happen next?

Based on the review we have made some recommendations for Cabinet to consider. To help Cabinet members in their decision making we are taking a report to People Scrutiny Committee. The date of the meeting is currently being arranged. We are asking scrutiny members to consider the findings of the Respite Opportunities Service review, the review recommendations, feedback received, and offers views to the Cabinet. Following the Scrutiny Committee, the chair of the committee will write-up people’s comments and views so that these can be shared with Cabinet members to help them make a decision.

How can I get involved?

People who receive respite services and their families as well as members of the public can get involved in the Scrutiny Committee.  You can find information on how to get involved by clicking here: Scrutiny – Get Involved

Who will make the decision about the way forward for the Respite Opportunities Service including the proposed changes?

The decision about whether the Council should accept the recommendations arising from the service review rests with the Cabinet. The Cabinet will meet and the decision will be considered in full. The date of Cabinet will be confirmed shortly. The chair of the People Scrutiny Committee will attend Cabinet and share with Cabinet members a summary of the feedback and views that were expressed at Scrutiny. This is to help the Cabinet consider the decision taking into account people’s views and feelings.

Need to know more?

If you want to know more about the review, next steps or how to get involved please send any questions to communications@monmouthshire.gov.uk