London borough faces judicial review over day centre closures

The London Borough of Hillingdon is facing judicial review proceedings over plans to close three day care centres.

The local authority has proposed replacing Woodside Day Centre, the Phoenix Day Centre and the Parkview Day Centre with a single day centre at Queens Walk.

Irwin Mitchell, which is representing the families of disabled adults who are bringing the legal action, argued that the consultations carried out by Hillingdon were unlawful, with not enough information provided to the public, families, campaigners and the council’s Cabinet.

Calling for the decision to be reversed, the law firm claimed that none of the current users of the services were sure they would get a place in the new centre.

Irwin Mitchell’s Alex Rook said: "The plans to close these centres will have a massive impact on the attendees and their families. The proposals will halve the number of places from 140 to 70, in one centre to cover the whole of Hillingdon.

“Many of the disabled adults affected are extremely vulnerable people who demonstrate challenging behaviours when a change occurs in their routine, including self harming.”

Rook claimed that the consultations were inadequate, meaning that his clients were not allowed to contribute in an informed way.

“The information provided to the centre users was missing several key details about what it meant for them and what alternative services might be available, and our clients remain in the dark about how the changes will actually affect them,” he added.

“There was strong opposition to these cuts from many local people who use the services but their views, we believe, were not correctly sought or captured. These are the very people who should have been helping to make the decision, and our clients are unanimously of the opinion that the consultation was little more than a tick box exercise.”

Mark Goldring, Chief Executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, said: "We are hearing from people with a learning disability across the country who have experienced the closure of a day service without an appropriate alternative and do not feel that they have been involved, or even considered, in the decision.

“It is imperative that those affected are fully consulted on the changes that are happening. People with a learning disability and their families are worried about the future, and cuts such as this are leading to people losing vital services which allow them to socialise, build support networks and participate in their local community. The loss of these services can have severe consequences, with families often being left to pick up the pieces.”

But Linda Sanders, Director of Social Care, Health and Housing at Hillingdon, claimed that the proposed changes would enable service users to have more choice and independence through offering care and support tailored to their needs. "Families and carers will be fully involved in the proposals," she said.

Sanders insisted that the council had carried out a full consultation over a two-month period, involving a range of meetings with people using services and their families. People were also invited to have their say on the council's website or by calling it directly, she said. "We will continue to support service users and their family carers throughout this process."