A London borough looks set to go ahead with plans to overhaul services for vulnerable adults – despite admitting it could cause them significant harm.
Wandsworth Council has already made advances in its ‘Procurement Framework’. Local charities and families fear the council could shut down the services it offers to people with autism and learning disability.
Members of the Baked Bean Company with founder Nikko Grosz, wearing the striped tee-shirt, who says the charity will not survive if it loses clients
The council has denied its plans will close existing providers. These include the Baked Bean Company, Share and Generate.
Changes to providers, staff and accommodation
The council says it values such providers. But a council document setting out the Procurement Framework, seen by Autism Eye, talks of “recommissioning services”.
It mentions changes to providers, staff and new accommodation that could “distress” vulnerable adults.
The document also mentions the potential triggering of new challenging behaviours in people who move away from existing to new providers.
Parents speak of fears
Parents attending a meeting on 11 April, held by the Baked Bean Company, spoke of their fears. One parent said their child relied so heavily on the existing provision that the new proposals could even see them hospitalised, with a crisis in their mental health.
Attendees at the meeting also accused the council of not putting its new proposals out for public consultation. Families said the council had kept them in the dark.
The Baked Bean Company offers drama workshops, dance, music, life skills, holidays and training for people with learning disabilities. Actor Hugh Grant has praised the provider and members have performed alongside the Hollywood star.
Aim for clients to train for regular jobs
Nikko Grosz is the founder of The Baked Bean Company, based at the Wilditch Community Centre in Wandsworth.
Grosz, who has examined the proposals with legal advisers, said Wandsworth Council wants clients with mild to moderate learning disabilities to train for regular jobs.
Parents expressed their concern at the 11 April meeting that the council also plans to have their children embark on independent travel and for some services that fall under “Life Skills and Wellbeing” to be delivered in family homes.
Charity ‘could not survive’
Grosz said around 75 per cent of the people who go to his group have mild to moderate learning disabilities.
He said his charity could not survive if it loses clients. He added that most of the 150 people who use the group do not want to be pushed into mainstream jobs.
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Published: 12 April 2023
