Council / Council chief pledges review into Laburnum respite service
COUNCIL chief Maggie Sandison says it will investigate whether the Short Breaks for Children model is “really being delivered well” at Laburnum House in Lerwick after a report by inspectors.
Shetland News reported this week that Shetland Islands Council (SIC) had been urged to carry out a complete refurbishment of the service’s Lerwick home.
Inspectors from Care Inspectorate Scotland criticised Laburnum, in the town’s Burgh Road, calling it “old and poorly maintained”.
It said some remedial work had been carried out “when the situation is dire and equipment unusable”, but urged a full programme of refurbishments to be made instead.
The concerns around Laburnum echoed a report from inspectors in March 2024, in which they also criticised the facility.
In the latest report, inspectors said Shetland Islands Council should review whether Laburnum “continues to meet the needs of the service users”.
Speaking to Shetland News after the publication of that report, Sandison said they would need to look at the “long-term suitability of the building”.
However the SIC chief executive said they needed to “look at everything, not just the building” in their review of how the service works.
Short Breaks for Children offers overnight breaks for up to six children and young people with learning difficulties and multiple complex needs at Laburnum, with a further two young people being cared for at a smaller property at Haldane Burgess Crescent.
Sandison highlighted the important work that the service, and its staff, does in providing essential respite for young people and their families.
She said it would be up to the council to review the current model and decide if Laburnum was “suitable” for delivering that care.
“We’ve had cancellations where we’re not able to support every family with the provision they were needing,” Sandison said.
“We know families with caring obligations, just how difficult that is. The respite provision is very important.
“It’s respite provision which is part of people’s care packages, and about supporting families to sustain care.”
The council chief said the consequences of not providing that respite care were “significant”, not just for young people and their families – but for the SIC too.
She said not providing that care could result in children having to come into the care of the local authority.
“It’s an investment very much, in trying to sustain the best outcomes,” she added.
Asked if any work to Laburnum could result in Short Breaks having to be paused for a period of time, Sandison said it was her view that they “try to sustain what we’re doing”.
She added that the SIC would try to do any repairs and maintenance that it could within the existing facility.
“The actual question we should be asking is, what is the model and what is the need.
“Is the provision right, is the scale of it right – it seems like we’re not meeting need at the moment,” Sandison said.
Care Inspectorate inspectors said that any work at Laburnum which would “ensure [service users] comfort and safety” should be carried out “promptly”.
Inspectors said that an area of improvement on Laburnum from 2024 had still not been met and would remain in place until their next visit.
In a statement, the SIC said the report provided a “fair reflection” of the findings by inspectors.
It pledged to develop an action plan to tackle the improvement recommendations being made by the Care Inspectorate.
The SIC added: “In relation to the physical environment, the service will undertake a strategic review to assess and forecast future need. This will inform how short breaks for children are delivered in the future, and will be guided by the Care Inspectorate’s guidance.
“Any immediate issues will be addressed promptly alongside the development of a longer-term plan to ensure the service continues to meet the needs of children and families.”
Education and families committee chairman Davie Sandison added he had received reassurances from the team about what position Laburnum was in since the inspection.
“I will be keen to see what is recommended from the review and at present I’m happy with the action being taken to respond to the improvement recommendations in the report,” he said.
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