Dudley Council scraps mental health service which was the same as one it already commissioned

A meeting of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on September 18 was told a 12-week programme at Woodside Community Centre in Dudley was doing an identical job to Aspire4U which was already commissioned by the council.

Councillors were told the Woodside Day Service, which ran from April to June 2024, was being scaled back to a one-day-a-week provision which would save the authority up to £30,000 in the current financial year.

Darryl Phillipowsky, Dudley’s head of adult mental health, said: “We are double paying for the same provision, there is no increase in numbers, it tends to be a core cohort of people who have long-term mental health issues.

“They need a low level of support to maintain themselves in the community.”

Councillors were told a total of 52 people were referred to the Woodside programme but just 16 attended sessions which focussed on understanding a healthy lifestyle, making social contacts and being creative.

Although the service had positive feedback, one user said “The staff were amazing and they provided a fun, safe environment to run the service”, the committee was told Aspire4U provides similar services.

Mr Phillipowsky said: “It is signposting and advice or guidance, their 10-week programme is very similar and they have facilities all across the borough.”

The committee was also told: “Dudley’s MBC Adult Social Care Mental Health Community Engagement Team will continue to offer a weekly drop-in session for advice and guidance on mental health issues from Woodside Community Centre, with a review of this weekly offer in due course.”

Cllr Caroline Reid told the committee: “In central Dudley, there are a lot of immigrants, the language barrier is a massive thing.

“I know a couple of immigrants battling with mental health, they have no family.

“They are suffering from depression, they are very lonely with a language barrier and Aspire4U has helped them build relationships.”