Closure of Wirral day care centres will cause immense distress (From Wirral Globe)

Based on the priorities that our 'wonderful' council have,why not establish day centres on Municipal golf courses. I'm sure a lot of users of the services would like to play golf!

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This whole process of closing Day Centres is a farce. The reasons for closing them as outlined by Social Services is due to the fall in numbers wanting this service. The fall in numbers is being brought about by Social Services doing there best to re-direct Service Users to other things by offering Personal Budgets. These budgets arrived with a bang on how poor Wirral was performing, following a very poor CQC report, which required Wirral to have at least 40% of users on a budget. Since then budgets have almost dried up and are not being offered at present.
At a recent meeting held at Eastham Day Centre, a senior manger from Social Services commented that she could not understand why the Day Centre premises had been allowed to fall into such a state of dis-repair. These are the managers who run the centres - yet they don`t understand.
Easy - look at the millions spent on renting Cheshire Lines. The plush fittings in all the offices, etc, thats where the money has been going.
When the closure is announced of the Day Centre - there is to be a 3 months consultation process. This no doubt will be for Social Services to try and work out what they are going to do with the people who use the centre being closed. They did the same thing when they closed Respite Centre`s - and what a **** up that was. Service users where left with next to no Respite care for months.
We are regarded nationally as having one of the Worst Social Service Departments in the country = as per the Care Quality Commission. It has had more Senior Manager changes and overalls than any other department, yet they still get it so badly wrong, time and time again.
They let Day Centres fall into dis-repair, then use it as an excuse to close them down, stating it is too expensive to repair them and they are under used.
The people who use these centres are the most vulnerable people in society, yet this council is being told by Social Services that one must close. No plan is in place as to what to do with staff and service users. These people have profound problems, they hate change, they want to remain with their friends, and this will be ripped away from them.
These service users have a right to decide what they want, not be dictated too by a Social Service Department that goes from one scandal to the next.
SHAME ON THIS COUNCIL IF THEY GO AHEAD AND CLOSE A DAY CENTRE.

Does Wirral Council really believe that voters will think they are putting the most vulnerable people in society first and are protecting them when it proposes to treat the Learning Disabled like cattle, moving them from one place to another with no regard for their future welfare?
From the bogus 'What really Matters' questionnaire to the prolonged decision process the Council seems to have done their level best to increase stress and worry for the disabled and their carers.
The Day Centres, Respite and Transport are a valuable, vital resource.
Many families would go into meltdown without this help.
I would ask all Councillors to vote for decency and caring, not just money saving.They may be able to live with their consciences if they do.