Concerns over respite care in Brighton and Hove raised by dad

Neil Man, whose 24-year-old son receives respite care at Beach House care home in Hove, spoke out after hearing about Meredith McGill.

Mrs McGill, the mother of an autistic teenage boy with learning disabilities, was unable to get respite care for him during a family emergency.

Beach House offers respite care for over 18s.

Mr Man, from Portslade, said because people were living there long term, only two or three beds were available for overnight respite for the 50 or more families needing the service.

Mr Man and his partner used to have respite for five nights a month before the coronavirus pandemic, when it was cancelled because of the lockdown and Covid restrictions.

Brighton and Hove City Council has since reassessed their needs.

He said: “We can’t cope without our overnight respite, after several months, including lockdown.

“There was no plan, no discussions. There was no communication or updates. It was dreadful.

“Even pre-Covid, the situation was the same as it is now, with people living there and blocking the beds.

“We are now getting our respite after the difficulties and we’re very happy that our assessed needs are now being met.”

Mr Man did not blame those stuck at the care home, in Westbourne Villas, because there is nowhere else locally for many of them to go.

He said: “The council needs to find somewhere for them, supported housing. If they’re moved into those places, the beds are freed for the intended purpose.

“The people living there, it’s not their fault. Some have been offered places outside the area and they’re not compelled to take them.

“Beach House has become a dumping ground for people who need residential homes and supported housing but can’t find it anywhere. There need to be more respite beds available to meet the needs of the people who need it.

“There are 50 people who get support from Beach House and they are just the ones who’ve been assessed. There are dozens of people who can’t even get a care needs assessment to get respite.

“Someone at the council said that no one is complaining about the lack of respite and I just laughed because I know people aren’t getting the assessments. Their needs aren’t being met.

“People don’t make complaints because they’re exhausted. They worry about things being taken away. The council wouldn’t do that but it doesn’t stop the fear of rocking the boat.”

The challenge of care places for long-term residents is also affecting the council’s budget.

Concerns have been raised about respite care in Brighton and Hove

A report to the policy and resources committee forecast a £217,000 overspend in the current financial year related to long-term placement of adults with learning disabilities at Beach House.

It said high levels of staff absence and the cost of emergency placements at Beach House were adding to the financial pressures.

Labour councillor John Allcock raised concerns the council was projecting an overspend on residential respite care because of the cost of emergency placements.

The council’s adult social care chief Deb Austin said there was a lack of alternative placements and her staff were “trying to be creative” in dealing with the problem.

Staffing was also a factor, she said, adding: “We are really struggling there in terms of workforce shortages, getting people in.

“That’s related to the cost of living crisis and, until very recently, we haven’t been that competitive. I’m hoping the agreement around pay grades will have a positive impact on that.”

The council said: “Our Beach House service provides both planned respite care for adults with learning disabilities and emergency respite placements.

“The emergency placements are particularly important for our older carers. This is because they themselves sometimes have health issues that can disrupt their ability to act as carers for weeks or sometimes months at a time.

“This inevitably means emergency placements can last for quite long periods of time. But it means we can give them the assurance they need that their son or daughter will be supported in a familiar environment while the carers fully recover their health.

“Long-term reductions in funding from central government and difficulties in recruiting staff are key issues. Brighton and Hove is no exception to this situation.

“However, Beach House continues to meet all existing planned respite arrangements for people and their families as well as taking new referrals for planned respite.”