A consultation that took place last month has been relaunched and the time period extended. The two services that the council is seeking views on are The Getaway short breaks service, and the Outback early help services.
Several of the questions have also been amended to provide greater clarity. The consultation is now available on the council’s website and will close for comments on Sunday 30th June.
The council is looking for views on either closing The Getaway building, which offers short respite breaks for children with disabilities or reducing capacity for short breaks and using some of the space for a home for children with disabilities in the council’s care.
The Outback provides early help services for families with disabled children. The council is seeking views on stopping these services, or refocusing them to prevent family breakdown and stopping children with disabilities coming into council care.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Councillor Julie Patten, said: “We are responding after receiving comments from a family who uses these services, who felt that the consultation period was not long enough and that some of the questions needed greater clarity.
“We welcome all feedback and want to ensure we give opportunities for all expressed views to be included and represented, before any final decisions are taken.
“Those who have already completed the questionnaire need not take part again, as we still have their responses and will include them when we do our analysis.
“But if anyone currently using these services, and those organisations who also provide services for children and families haven’t yet completed the survey please do so that you let us know your views.”
The online questionnaire is at derbyshire.gov.uk/outbackgetawayconsultation and closes for comments on 30th June 2024. Paper copies are available at both the Getaway and Outback centres, and by emailing cs.residentialdisability @ derbyshire.gov.uk.