Freedom of Information Request: Summerhill House
In light of the Council’s decision communicated via email to local service providers on the 11th November 2014 to close down Summer Hill, substance misuse residential re-hab, we are requesting the following information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (2000).
Residential services were reviewed as part of an overall approach to developing a single, joined up recovery focused substance misuse system. The initial work was included in the needs assessment, development of the commissioning strategy, public consultation and procurement process. The associated documents are available on request or via the Birmingham City Council website – http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/substancemisusecommissioning.
Post contract award, the approach to implementing new services is to develop and implement a ‘Mobilisation Plan’. The purpose of this plan is to ensure, in detail, that the new system and related services are in place as planned and are fit for intended purpose. The overarching focus of the plan is to keep patients safe during changes and ensure their treatment plans are uninterrupted.
The plan helps commissioners to pinpoint and address a number of operational issues or risks that may emerge as the services are being introduced. These issues, wherever and whenever they emerge, need to be addressed to ensure the new system is fit for intended purpose. Limited ‘aftercare’ provision, including Summerhill House has emerged as one of these issues.
The review referenced in the email on the 11th November 2014 reflects the collation of additional detailed operational intelligence gained through the implementation of the mobilisation plan. Therefore, there is no single review group or specific report. That said, there is a summary of emerging findings;
· For at least the past 18 months, there has been an ongoing, long term, waiting list for residential aftercare for Birmingham citizens recovering from substance misuse.
· Summerhill House occupancy level is currently less than 50% and has been consistently low for the past 18 months.
· Summerhill House is only available to Birmingham citizens who are homeless
· Summerhill House residential aftercare access criteria excludes citizens that have their own tenancy or property.
· There is very limited alternative residential aftercare provision as an alternative to Summerhill House
· Also, there is no out of area residential aftercare routinely available for people recovering from substance misuse
Therefore the communication asking that no further referrals were made was an attempt to limit the growing waiting list of patients waiting for care and to help offer alternatives.
2. / a) Please provide information on who was on the substance misuse residential re-hab review i.e. post titles and how many were service users.There was no specific Substance Misuse Residential Re-hab group.
2. / b) Please provide a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Substance Misuse residential re-hab review group.There was no specific Substance Misuse Residential Re-hab group, therefore there are no related Terms of Reference.
3. / Please provide evidence of consultation including, reports to elected members, findings and dates of specific consultation events with service users.Over 800 people contributed to the Substance Misuse Strategy Consultation. Birmingham residents, service users and stakeholders unanimously agreed with the vision and strategic aims.
Birmingham City Council is not closing down Summerhill House, therefore there has been no associated consultation.
Current proposals are to broaden of the scope of this residential provision, to be ‘opened up’ and accessed by more of Birmingham’s most vulnerable citizens (including people with substance misuse problems). This will be based on individual need rather than condition or diagnosis.
This has been, and continues to be, discussed with service users groups:
Meeting / DateSubstance Misuse Recovery Forum / 26th November 2014 / Representing Birmingham service users
Service User: Review, Scrutiny and development group / 16th December 2014 / Service user led group providing scrutiny in the development of local services.
4. / Please provide copies of the City Wide Council Review of services which it has been stated in the email from the Substance misuse commissioner covered the review of substance misuse
residential re-hab services.
As described in Question 1. There was no single ‘Service Review’ report
5. / Please provide evidence including dates and findings of the above mentioned review mentioned question 4 which specifically covers residential re-hab placements.As described in Question 1. There was no single ‘Service Review’ report
6. / Please provide copies of all reports to elected members agreeing to the closure of Summer Hill for substance misuse residential re-hab.As described in Question 1. There was no single ‘Service Review’ report.
Summerhill House is not closing. Also Summerhill House is not a rehabilitation unit, it is designated for aftercare and has been for more than 2 years.
7. / Please provide copies of the Equality Impact assessment with dates of any changes, along with any reports to elected members.An Equality Impact Assessment was completed for substance misuse which formed part of the public documents during the procurement exercise.
The Equality Impact Assessment is in the public domain and available through the Birmingham City Council website as indicated in Question 1.
8. / Please provide evidence of alternative provision secured in Birmingham and referred to in the email of the 11th November 2014 from the substance misuse commissioner.Working with partner organisations, CRI and Birmingham City Council have initially identified the following residential rehabilitation provision:
Organisation / Number of beds/flatsChanges UK – 2nd stage support, post detox (2-30 days abstinent and attending the Recovery Academy) 12 male beds + 4 female beds, for six month placements / 18 beds
Changes UK – 3rd stage support, (over 30 days abstinent) 20 male beds + 4 female beds, for six month placements
Changes UK – 4th stage independent living, abstinent, 12 month placements / 9 Flats
New Leaf Recovery Project – abstinent, 12 month placements / 12 beds
Out of Area Provision / 10 beds
The proposed alternative approach will also provide extensive structured day care provision, enabling individuals to access and progress through community rehabilitation programmes, returning home in the evening.
This will enable family and community connections to be retained and will also enable rehabilitative programmes to be based upon and within the realities of the home environment.
The day care provision will also be located in a variety of locations and settings across the city rather than just Summerhill House (day care Provision is outlined below);
Service / Available provisionSharp Programme – intensive day care programme – core and 12 step (15 per group, full time 5 days per week for 12 weeks) / 120
Foundations of Change Programme:
New entry to treatment programme
(15 per group, 3 hours per day, minimum of twice a week, for 8 weeks) 2 cohorts running / 195
Foundations of Growth Programme:
Intensive day care
(15 per group, 5 hours per day, 3 days per week minimum for 12 weeks) / 360
Foundations of Life Aftercare programme
Mutual aid based support / No ceiling
MPACT programme
Family programme
8 families per group (minimum of 3 hours per week for 8 weeks) / 48
This is an initial service offer which is being further developed and expanded. Critical to this development is the involvement of service users and stakeholders.
9. / In relation to question 8, please provide reports on the tender process for alternative re-hab provision and all relevant elected member reports that made the decision to authorise the procuring of alternative provision, including all financial calculations.Birmingham City Council commissioned a whole system approach to substance misuse. Treatment and rehabilitation requirements were outlined in the service specification. There were no individual ‘Lots’ to the tender specifying financial allocation to rehabilitation or aftercare.
As explained in Question 1, through the mobilisation process, emerging issues need to be addressed as they arise. There has not been, and there are no plans to commence a separate tender process for alternative rehabilitation.
10. / a) The service re-design model for Birmingham Substance misuse services, on which service users were consulted, included the retention of Summer Hill. Please provide evidence including dates of when re-consultation took place on this change.Summerhill House is not closing.
10. / b) Please also provide data on findings i.e. how many services users were consulted and how many voted to keep summer hill?Summerhill House is not closing.
11. / Please provide evidence of when this significant change in the overall service re-design was communicated to the wider population including those that submitted an original tender.Summerhill House is not closing. We are in continued dialogue with service users and stakeholders in expanding and developing all aspects of the substance misuse system.
12. / Please provide a table showing all of the Council Committees with names of elected Chairs and dates where briefings, reports and Council Papers, were taken in relation to substance misuseresidential re-hab including Summer Hill. Please also include dates of all “Call in Periods”.
The table below outlines the requested meetings in relation to the substance misuse commissioning process:
Date / Meeting with17/05/13 / Cllr Stacey briefing
15/08/13 / Cllr Bedser briefing
19/09/13 / Cllr McKay briefing
04/11/13 / Cllr Bedser briefing
05/11/13 / Cllr Phillips briefing
05/11/13 / Cllr Stacey briefing
06/11/13 / Cllr Stacey briefing
12/11/13 / Cllr Cotton briefing
15/11/13 / Cllr Jones briefing
21/11/13 / Cllr McKay briefing
26/11/13 / Cllr Stacey briefing
12/12/13 / Cllr Bedser briefing
16/12/13 / Birmingham City Cabinet meeting – Procurement strategy
17/01/14 / Cllr Stacey briefing
24/01/14 / Cllr Stacey briefing
30/03/14 / Cllr Bedser briefing
15/05/14 / Joint Cabinet members briefing Cllr Bedser and Cllr Jones
03/06/14 / Cllr Stacey briefing
10/06/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
17/06/14 / Cllr Stacey briefing
18/06/14 / Cllr Jones briefing
19/06/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
23/06/14 / Cllr McKay briefing
24/06/14 / Cllr Barnett briefing
07/07/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
14/07/14 / Recommendation to award - Report to Cabinet
18/07/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
29/07/14 / Cllr Kooner briefing
30/07/14 / Cllr Stacey briefing
31/07/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
21/08/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
21/10/14 / Joint briefing Cllr Barnett, Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Cllr Collin, Cllr Anderson
28/10/14 / Cllr Brigid Jones and Cllr Anita Ward
20/11/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
27/11/14 / Cllr Cotton briefing
15/12/14 / Cllr Kooner: Council Commissioning and Third Sector Organisations Scrutiny Inquiry
For a description of Councillor portfolio responsibility and role brief can be found on the Birmingham City Council http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cabinet-members