Decision details

RESOLVED

(a) that three of the four Link Centre buildings (Barnstaple, Bideford and Ilfracombe) re-open as soon as it is deemed safe to do so under Covid-19 guidelines;

(b) that the Holsworthy centre remain closed and the once-weekly morning drop-in session be moved to an alternative venue in the town;

(c) that a local implementation plan and timeframe for redesign of the service to be developed for each centre, including efficiency and management arrangements and Link Centre staff to increasingly focus on outreach support with the mental health social work teams;

(d) that work be undertaken with Link Centre staff, service users, local Councillors and local community and voluntary sector representatives to establish:

(i) the outreach services to be delivered in the wider community to ensure equity of provision across all of North Devon. This may include using other community facilities; and

(ii) which of the existing non-specialist services can be delivered by local community providers, which will need to be cost-effective and within the available budget;

(e) that each local implementation plan assesses the potential for wider community use of the building in partnership with local stakeholders; and

(f) that progress on each of the four local implementation plans be reported to the Heath and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee at its meeting scheduled for 21 March 2023.