Parents of the most vulnerable people in Bath and North East Somerset have warned “our lives won’t function” without a vital care service that is set to be shut down.

The Newton House respite care service offers short stays for people with severe care needs, allowing their full-time carers to have a short break.

The five bed building in Bath is the only respite care facility for adults with complex high care needs in Bath and North East Somerset. But care provider Dimensions said it is “unviable” and plans to shut it down and turn the building into a residential care home.

Addressing the council’s scrutiny panel on adult services on Monday, January 13, Derek Greenman said: “We feel absolutely devastated by this decision. It’s almost like you don’t have a future. That’s how you feel. You feel completely lost.”

His stepson, Michael, is 30 and has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and no voice. Mr Greenman said: “The social care teams have always said he is very complex. Yet bit by bit we have lost all the support we have had in the past.

Wendy Lucas' daughter Rhiannon, who uses the respite care service at Newton House (Image: Wendy Lucas)
Wendy Lucas' daughter Rhiannon, who uses the respite care service at Newton House ( (Image: Wendy Lucas) )

“The bombshell regarding Newton House left us completely stunned over Christmas.”

The closure was announced for the end of January but is now “paused” until alternate arrangements have been found for people who use the service. Dimensions is a registered housing association, and is not run by Bath and North East Somerset Council, but the council is under a statutory duty to assess and provide for people’s care needs, including providing respite care.

For the 22 families who rely on the service, a stay at Newton House can be the only time they can get cleaning and washing done. Wendy Lucas’ daughter, Rhiannon, 28, spends two nights a week at Newton House. Ms Lucas told the panel: “We actually need respite care so we can sleep. We only sleep fully two nights a week.

“If we lose this short term respite facility, many families will not be able to continue to look after their loved ones at home any longer.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council wrote again to the families of people who use Newton House to apologise for the distress caused and say that the closure had been “paused.” The council cabinet member for adult services, Alison Born (Liberal Democrat, Widcombe and Lyncombe), learned about the decision after families were told it would be closing.

A council report which went before the committee meeting on January 13 said that telling parents the home would be closing had been an “error” as alternate provision had not been found for everyone using Newton House.

Dimensions has said Newton House does not cover its costs as it is only running at 60 per cent capacity — but Ms Lucas said that families looking for respite care were being turned away from Newton House because of a lack of space.

She told councillors: “I can fill this chamber with families who are desperate, who are on their knees, who are desperately asking for additional overnight respite. And they are being consistently told that it does not exist.

“B&NES is a Liberal Democrat council in an area of Liberal Democrat MPs. Throughout the general election, Ed Davey shouted from the rooftops and the top of waterslides that his party was committed to ensuring that carers received a fair deal and the support they need.

“What we need is Newton House, good local care that we can walk into at any time of day or night to ensure that our special needs people are safe, well, and happy.”

Ryan Probert who is 28 and has an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes which means he is small, is non-verbal, and needs medication and a very high level of care
Ryan Probert who is 28 and has an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes which means he is small, is non-verbal, and needs medication and a very high level of care (Ryan Probert who is 28 and has an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes which means he is small, is non-verbal, and needs medication and a very high level of care)

Rhiannon has attended Newton House for 10 years. Ms Lucas said: “Over that time we have built up trust with Newton House.

“Twice in our lives we have had the devastating early morning visit from a police officer who has informed us that our precious girl has been physically abused by individuals who were contracted and paid for by this council to provide her with care. One was a teacher and the second time was a personal assistant provided by adult social care.”

“Without Newton House, our lives won’t function.”

Committee member Lesley Mansell (Radstock, Labour) said: “I am absolutely shocked and horrified at the information that we have been given today from the members of the public.”

She warned that the council could be in breach of equalities legislation by announcing the closure without having completed equalities impact assessments. Ms Westhead said that the assessments would be carried out and this was the reason the closure had been paused.

Joanna Wright (Lambridge, Lambridge), who also sits on the committee, called for the council to carry out a full review into what respite care was available and what people’s care needs were.

Dave Harding (Chew Valley, Liberal Democrat) called for Dimensions to be brought before the committee to answer its questions.