Official Report 253KB pdf
Care Homes (PE522)
Agenda item 2 concerns petition PE522. Committee members have received an approach paper on the petition. Are there any comments? Do members agree that we should accept the referral from the Public Petitions Committee and carry out further consideration of the issues that the petition raises? Elaine Smith looks puzzled.
That is because the responses from the Executive and COSLA seem to make it clear that responsibility for the provision of services lies with local authorities. I am not sure how we would take the matter forward. Would we consider taking evidence from local authorities, for example?
The proposal is that we ask the Executive for its view before we take the work forward. There appears to be a problem throughout the country with care for young disabled people and the issue of institutional care arises. I think that it would be worth writing to the Executive, but the committee might want to ask a reporter to consider the issue or we could take evidence on it.
The issue is not only about general care of young people in inappropriate settings. In speaking to individuals and groups, I am picking up on a significant problem with respite care. The facilities that are available to young people are in totally inappropriate settings.
From conversations that I have had with councils, it seems to me that there is a credibility gap—if that is the right way of expressing it—between the demands that the Executive makes of councils and the councils' ability to fulfil them. I include personal care as part of that problem and I think that it might be useful to consider whether the Executive's demands are feasible. I have just heard about two cases of bedblocking that have occurred simply because there is a huge waiting list for long-term care. There are no beds available. Perhaps that is stretching the boundaries a wee bit, but—
We are talking about the care of young disabled people, whether that is respite care or longer-term care. Young people often find themselves in a ward or a home with older people who have a host of different problems. We are talking about care that is specifically for young people.
The question is whether carers are available so that young people can be cared for in a home situation.
There is lots to discuss on the issue. Do members agree that, in the first instance, we should write to the Executive and ask a reporter to consider the issue? As Elaine Smith said, this might be an opportunity for us to consider evidence and to carry out some kind of inquiry. Although the issue does not affect many young people, there are certainly problems with care and respite care for young disabled people.
The issue is not just about councils; it goes right across the voluntary and private care sectors.
Do members agree to what I have suggested?
Thank you.
Meeting closed at 12:38.