Ealing Respite Home Closure Approved

Council agree to continue with plans to shut Heller House

The decision to close Ealing's respite centre for young people with special needs was rubber stamped last night.

Heller House is the only care facility of its type in the borough and despite fierce opposition Ealing Council has voted to shut the facility having claimed the building was 'not suitable for the complex needs of disabled children.'

The initial decision was 'called-in' by the Liberal Democrats and reviewed at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee last night (Thursday 10th March).

Parents and carers argued passinonately about why they believed Ealing Council should consider keeping Heller House open whilst other options are considered. Evidence was also presented that a new respite centre could be built on the same site before the current building may need to be demolished.

Campaigner Siobhan Bryer said: '' It was very disappointing that Labour councillors did not send back the decision on Heller House respite centre to cabinet in the face of the substantial hard evidence parents presented on the huge numbers of families in Ealing who are desperately in need of overnight respite. They did commit to looking further and in depth at the actual need in Ealing. Councillor Binda Rai emphasised that the third option is still on the table.'' 

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Gary Malcolm, said: "Liberal Democrats believe that by closing Heller House before they have reviewed the decisions is wrong. There are ways that Heller House can be improved whilst allowing for a combined use of the land to secure the day centre for the vulnerable children who use the centre.”

Councillor Jon Ball (Lib Dem), member of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, commented that: ''The head and the heart say the same thing. With severe doubts in the finances and the number of young people in need, as reported by Ealing Council, we should not allow Heller House to be shut without a full investigation of all the options.''

Councillor Binda Rai, cabinet member for children and young people said:

''We want to ensure that families have access to the highest possible quality of care in a suitable environment. The council will continue to provide respite care and there is no question that we will stop providing respite care for the nine families who currently use Heller House. We are working to assess their individual needs in order to make suitable alternative arrangements for them.

“We will now move ahead with looking at all options for the Heller House site, including proposals put forward during the consultation. We are also going to look at the possibility of creating a new respite care service in the borough dedicated to meeting the needs of 16-25 year-olds by helping them to live more independently as young adults.''

11th March 2016 (updated 17/03)