Budget cuts anger

An angry woman threatened to punch Comhairle leader, Angus Campbell, during a heated budget cuts' meeting.

A Comhairle proposal to radically change residential care arrangements for children is likely to lead to the closure of the Hillcrest care home in Stornoway with the potential loss of 28 jobs.

Affected families are furious over the plan to save £350,000 to place all children all children currently in residential care at the Action for Children-operated facility into foster care.

Fears have been voiced a further 24 posts may be also affected if the knock-on effect makes the associated Action for Children service at Bayhead, Stornoway, unsustainable.

Angry parent threatens to punch council leader over budget cuts

22 January 2015

Affected parents at Thursday night's public meeting in the council chambers in Stornoway fear effectively axing Hillcrest in October this year will lead to the loss of respite care for children with additional support needs.

Parents say respite care is a very valuable service as it provides temporary relief, perhaps even for one night to families who are caring for a child and helps them re-energise to manage the rest of the time.

One enraged mother denounced the Comhairle for having a "short-sighted view," saying it would end up costing more if they have to send children to the mainland.

Referring to other proposed cuts, she angrily stated: Our children are not going to have music, they are not going to have art and they are not going to have PE.

“Now you are saying that children with additional support needs are not going to get respite."

“Do you have any idea what it is like to have a child with additional support needs?”

She yelled at Angus Campbell: "I am leaving now because otherwise I am going to punch you."

The Comhairle is proposing to build its own respite care unit at Back, Lewis, at a cost of around £2 million.

Another person pointed out: "If Hillcrest closes in October, the new facility will not be up and running."

One critic asked: "What alternative is in place for parents if there is a breakdown in respite - and it does happen - if you close Hillcrest."

Council chief executive Malcom Burr agreed "residential provision can sometimes be the solution."

The Comhairle has approved the recruitment of five fee-paid foster carers.

A budget report said: "Foster care has improved outcomes over residential care and the current range of services within the Comhairle provides for local crisis accommodation for up to three months in local authority provision."

The report admits: "This would reduce significantly the service requirements of Action for Children."

Highlighted risks include the recruitment of appropriate foster carers, matching children to foster carers and managing the transition in the timescale.