A council service which caters for adults and children with learning disabilities in the north-east might have to be partly “decommissioned”.
The Aberdeenshire Integrated Joint Board (IJB) is asking local councillors to back a “redesign” and review of the current provision of residential respite services in the area.
The board is a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council and NHS Grampian which oversees the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership.
A report highlighting the issues, surrounding residential respite across the region, is now going before the local authority’s area committees.
The service is offered in Aberdeenshire for adults and children with a range of learning disabilities and complex physical, emotional and medical needs.
In-house respite is offered from three buildings in Aberdeenshire – Highfield Bungalow in Banchory and properties on Robertson Road in Fraserburgh and Seafield Road in Peterhead.
In the report, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership chief officer, Adam Coldwells, said none of the three facilities operate “at full capacity”.
He added that lower demand, requirements for specific times and last-minute cancellations were all factors resulting in an “inefficient” use of the resources.
The board also commissions services though charities such as Inspire and Archway in Ellon, Inverurie and Aberdeen.
Inverurie also has a new housing complex for adults with learning disabilities in St James’s Court – which Mr Coldwells believes has the “potential for much more efficient use”.
He added: “The resource is well designed and makes integration with a larger group possible.
“However, this leads to the need to decommission some current provision and also the opportunity to rationalise provision for children across south and central Aberdeenshire.”
Mr Coldwells added there was “significant risk” residential respite services in the area “cannot be provided in the future within budget”.
He said: “Current policy is to provide services which are inclusive and community based. It is therefore likely that demand for traditional residential respite for more able people will reduce.
“However some residential-style respite will still be required for adults and children with complex needs and physical disabilities.”
Councillors are being asked to comment on the matters following a discussion by the IJB itself on May 11.