PARENTS and carers of adults with learning and physical disabilities have slated new daytime care arrangements in York.

They were speaking out after the provision of care switched to Burnholme, following the closure of Burtonstone Community Centre.

They said the charity United Response had won a tender bid to City of York Council to provide care at the new Centre@Burnholme. However, they said under this arrangement they would not be allowed to take their own personal assistants in with them, who they knew and trusted, because United Response provided care. Parents said they had now lost the fundamental choice of having an individual and personal support worker.

They said there was no alternative provision, and unless their sons and daughters transferred into the care of United Response, they were left without anywhere with suitable facilities to go with their assistants and were instead left looking for toilets and somewhere to eat packed lunches.

Josephine Wilson said her daughter Toni, who has severe brain damage, now had no safe place to go on three days a week. “This is not acceptable and there is no justification for what the council have done to my daughter and her friends.”

Sue Brigham, whose son Tom has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, said she did not want him to be supported by United Response but wanted him to continue to have a personal assistant. “He has no daily base now to use the toilet or to get out of his chair to do his vital physio,” she said.

Gary Brittain, council head of commissioning adult social care, said it was ‘proud to be able to offer an exciting new person-centred provision from the charity United Response at the new Centre@Burnholme, a fantastic new multi-purpose building’. He said it reflected other city models and added to the choices available. It runs from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and supports up to 30 people with disabilities.

“There, they and members of the public have access to a range of communal facilities across six rooms and includes two changing place facilities, in addition to a number across the city, a library and a café. The support offered complements any existing care individuals may already receive from personal carers or families outside the service’s core hours.”

He said growing numbers were attending, and the council was working with users and United Response to shape further what was on offer.