Moray Council set to take over respite centre

FORRES respite centre Taigh Farrais is to be taken over by Moray Council. Councillors made the decision at a meeting of the health and social care services committee last Wednesday, agreeing that it was the best way to secure the facility’s future.

The move comes after councillors were told that other local authorities in Scotland were likely to reduce their use of the facility, possibly making it financially unviable.

Taigh Farrais provides respite care for people suffering from physical disabilities. Only 15% of its current users currently come from Moray, with the remainder coming principally from Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Highland.

None of these authorities contribute to the £150,000 of annual funding Moray Council gives to current operators Grampian Living Options.

The use of Taigh Farrais by other local authorities stems from the era of Grampian Regional Council, when Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray were part of the same region.

However, it is expected that these two authorities will soon redesign their services and scale back their use of Taigh Farrais.

The decision was welcomed by Taigh Farrais’ manager, Alison Broadley. “We are delighted that our resource is going to continue for the benefit of Moray users,” she said. “We would like to thank all the Moray users who have supported us over the last few months.”

Ms Broadley said that she felt Taigh Farrais had been at risk of closure because so many of its users come from other council districts.

“I can’t comment on Moray Council’s procedures and practices, but I don’t think they are going to make too many changes to something that is working well,” she added.

Moray Council member for Forres, Irene Ogilvie, who sits on the services committee, said she believed they had taken the right course of action.

“I think the council is going to look into how it can be helped to stand on its own,” she said. “It won’t change that much at the moment for people using it. We won’t know about people from other authorities until we speak to them in detail and find out if they are going to use it.”

She added: “There is a lot of work to be done to find out who else can use it.”

Her comments were echoed by fellow Forres member, and committee chairman, Councillor Lee Bell.

“It was recognised that the existing staff have a high level of skill that can be used flexibly in a number of ways,” he said. “They will continue to provide respite as required, albeit focused on Moray service users.”

He added: “Additional staff capacity can be used to support respite or domiciliary care provision in a community setting and for other client groups, which could help offset the costs of operating Taigh Farrais.

“There is also the possibility of generating additional income through selling on respite provision to other local authorities – but that would require to be at an economic rate.”

Vice-chairman of Forres Community Council, Bob Hellyer, welcomed the news. “The community council has already contacted the local authority and congratulated them,” he said, adding: “I think it’s to be applauded.

“It’s a fact that it can’t afford to close. There is obviously a need for its services Scotland-wide,” he said. “They have got to look at it from a business point of view and make appropriate changes.”

A council spokesman said that he expected the takeover to be completed by March, 2011.