Families who rely on a day centre to help care for their disabled children and teenagers have said they will be at “crisis point” if the service is cut as part of a council’s new budget plans. Across Wales finances for public services are under the microscope as council’s draw up new budgets in a desperate attempt to tackle tens of millions of pounds in shortfall.
In Newport council’s budget plans released last month the authority explained how it proposed to bridge a budget gap of £27.6m in part through higher council tax and fewer bin collections. But it also said cuts could be made to social care services. The plans are currently out for consultation.
The council specified the Oaklands residential short break home in Rogerstone among other services, proposing that cuts could be made to reduce the service from 21 families to 11, and from six sessions per child each month to four. WalesOnline understands Newport council has already begun consulting with 28 staff members at the day centre, which has a queue of families on a waiting list, over potential redundancies.
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Of the many parents who shared what the service means to them, many said their child would have to go into permanent residential care if they were to lose the Oaklands service, one couple said they would have no choice but to separate if they were no longer able to use Oaklands, and a mother said her mental health wouldn’t cope in the “inevitable” event of her family reaching “crisis point”.
Kate Dixon’s 12-year-old son Leo, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, global delays and is non-verbal, has used Oaklands for two years. The service offers him two-on-one care for one day a week so Kate can have respite - effectively meaning time to go to the supermarket to do the weekly shop, clean her house, strip Leo’s bed, and spend some time with Leo’s five-year-old brother. “I am mentally and physically exhausted all of the time,” part-time welfare rights caseworker for a disability charity Kate said. “Due to Leo’s physical and emotional needs he needs the facilities that are available for him at Oaklands, he can’t just go to a friend or relative. If Oaklands cuts us off I feel I will have no option but to give up work, which is heartbreaking for me - I love my job and love working, it takes my mind away for a bit. I feel I’m in a huge spiral again now.”
At Oaklands, Leo, along with other children with similar needs, is able to build friendships and gain some independence. The “dedicated” staff cook with the children and teenagers, bath them, do arts and crafts and go on day trips.
In a meeting with council officers and social services parents said they felt cutting the service would have a detrimental effect on the authority’s finances. “They are not going to save money in this way, because the children will go into residential care,” Kate said. “Even some foster carers have said they won’t be able to do it without Oaklands because they also need respite and to care for their own families and elderly relatives.
“I have no idea how the council will work out who has the greater need because every family and carer is at breaking point. There will be a lot of families in crisis. I’ve been in that position before where I have felt completely broken and as though I had nothing left to give. I fear I’ll go back to that place where we’re not only fighting alone for Leo but also for his brother who would miss out on so much without his brother being able to go to Oaklands.”
Carli and Chris Jordan said they’d had to have “devastating” conversations about splitting up and living in separate houses so they can effectively look after their children if they were to lose the care being provided for their youngest son Brodey at Oaklands. Brodey, 11, who began using the service following complications with a bone infection in 2020, has severe autism and is non-verbal so communicates through pictures. His two brothers, aged 13 and 21, also have autism.
“Chris and I have been together for 22 years and we don’t want to separate, but we need to do what is best for our children and if we lose Oaklands we’re not going to be able to work this out together as a family - there is no way,” Carli said. “It’s devastating to even think about.
“I can’t thank the staff at Oaklands enough for what they have done for him. I get really emotional just talking about them because they’ve changed our lives so much. It gives Brodey something to look forward to - he can’t wait to go there every week. Nobody knows Oaklands unless you’re a family being helped by them. The work they do there is unbelievable.”
Chris added: “It also gives Brodey a reset, as he can be quite aggressive at times, so when he comes back home he’s more regulated within himself.”
Parents of service users have created a petition calling on Oaklands to at least continue to offer the service it currently operates. The petition has now received more than 900 signatures.
Natasha Mey’s son Makenzie, who is 14 but has the mental age of a toddler, has severe autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, and is non-verbal. He has severe challenges which range from hitting, kicking holes in walls, and needs 24-hour care. “Makenzie’s behaviour can be very destructive at times. He is 6’3 and weighs almost 20 stone,” Natasha said. “He is very hyper, can be very aggressive, and sometimes he doesn’t sleep for up to 48 hours. I need that short break from him each week to rest. I’ve had to let the council know that my only alternative is to put him in residential care. It’s a scary thought as I shouldn’t even have to contemplate that while he’s only 14.
“I was in crisis before we found Oaklands and there are families waiting for support who are in crisis. There are days I feel I could run out of the house and not come back. I’m not ashamed to say that because I know other parents feel the same way.
“During Covid when Oaklands limited the service’s hours we were looking for foster care to help with respite but no-one came forward. For some children there isn’t an alternative.”
A spokeswoman for Newport council said: “Newport City Council is facing a major financial challenge with a budget gap next year of £27.6 million. There is increased demand for services and increased pressure because of rising costs. Two thirds of the budget is spent on the most essential services - social care and education. All budget proposals are currently subject to public consultation and we are urging residents to give their feedback and the survey also invites people to give alternative proposals. More information can be found at www.newport.gov.uk/budget. The proposal for Oaklands, which offers short breaks and care for children aged four to 17 years, is not to close the service but to reduce it from seven to four days a week. If it goes ahead, the service will support 11 to 12 children each week.”
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