Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson has praised Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership staff for their care and compassion in supporting service users, carers and families at West Lane Gardens and Whitehaugh.
Capability Scotland confirmed in July 2017 it was ending these services in Johnstone and Paisley, which support adults with learning disabilities.
Renfrewshire Council provided funding to March 2019 to enable them to continue while Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership staff worked closely with everyone affected to examine all available service and care options.
Personalised plans are now in place based on assessed service user individual care needs and the HSCP is extending its highly-regarded Community Networks service, in response to discussions with carers and their family members.
Community Networks helps people with learning disabilities to develop and maintain the skills they need to lead healthy, safe lifestyles in their local communities.
A new hub will be established in Johnstone and capacity extended at Spinners Gate in Paisley.
Councillor Nicolson said: “Since Capability Scotland announced its intention to end these services I know that health and social care partnership staff have been working tirelessly with individual service users to ensure staff are working to support the needs of those who accessed these services.
“We provided council funding to give additional time and space to consider all the options and listen to what service users, family members and carers wanted.
“Everyone has a personalised assessment and budget and I’m pleased to see that almost all those who used the services and their carers have now agreed on a support plan which will enable them meet their needs and pursue activities and interests that are important to them and ensure they lead the fullest lives possible.
“Extending the community networks service into Johnstone and expanding its capacity in Paisley is an important step, recognising the high-quality care and support this service provides and responding to what service users, carers and family members want.
“It means the established relationships between service users can be maintained and I know work is ongoing to explore all staffing options, recognising the importance of familiarity for service users.”