New Day Opportunities Model
14 August 2025
A review was undertaken into day opportunities for older adults and adults with learning disabilities. Public engagement was conducted, with 34 public events held, attracting 357 participants, and a survey which received 472 responses. The engagement revealed that there is a vibrant community offer across the county with a wealth of day opportunities offered between the statutory and third sectors.
The new model is flexible, focussed on increasing independence, resilience and community connectedness. It will deliver a tiered approach to support, focusing on:
Preventative Support: This tier provides information, advice, and assistance to encourage and support the building of skills, independence and social connection. The development of local area co-ordination is a key feature, where co-ordinators will proactively build relationships with people, their support networks and service providers to develop connection and cohesion.
Personalised Support: This tier offers individualised assistance to enable access to community services and activities through targeted intervention and support. The model takes a strengths-based approach, focusing on the person's strengths and supporting them to build their confidence and independence at their own pace, to their own abilities, within inclusive and supportive communities.
Specialist Support: This tier provides high-quality, specialist day opportunities for people with complex and profound care and support needs. It recognises the need for building-based support where the environment, appropriately trained staff, and specialist equipment are integral to meeting the needs of individuals.
Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys, Cllr Sian Cox said: "We are creating a sustainable, equitable day opportunities model that supports people to live healthy and rewarding lives, as valued members of their communities and society, able to participate in what matters to them; and which supports unpaid carers to do the same.
"Key to our new model is people being able to maximise their personal wellbeing in ways that work for them as individuals, choosing from a wide range of social, work and leisure opportunities, using and building on the strengths they already have, with a focus on encouraging health and independent living; and with consistent, reliable, worry-free respite for carers.
"This is a locality-based model, designed to work in close partnership with communities, to build a real understanding of community provision and need, and how we can work together to shape local services and ensure each community has what it needs," she added.
We are reconfiguring the buildings used for day opportunities, with a focus on maximising use of co-location in community assets. We are currently working with people who use the service and their families to explore alternative options that would meet their needs. The timeline that has been agreed is to have new arrangements completed by March 31st 2026. No changes to current provision will occur until the new provision is in place, with a focus on seamless and supportive transitions.
Currently our plans for the future provision of day opportunities in various localities in Powys would include:
- Welshpool: Coed Isaf for adults with learning disabilities.
- Newtown: Castell-Y-Dail for adults with learning disabilities and Hafan yr Afon for older people.
- Llandrindod Wells: The Court for older people, and community support schemes.
- Brecon: Arosfa would become an integrated centre for older people and adults with learning disabilities.
- Ystradgynlais: A community venue for older people and adults with learning disabilities.
- Machynlleth: Cyfle Newydd would become an integrated centre for older people and adults with learning disabilities.
- Llanidloes: Maes y Wennol would become an integrated centre for older people and adults with learning disabilities.
- Commissioned services
The new model includes:
- Redesigned day opportunities based on the engagement outcomes, focusing on community facilities and integrated centres.
- Local Area Co-ordinators to deliver information, advice, and assistance, and help to build community capacity and resilience.
- Supported Employment Advisers to enhance employment support.
- The development of Home Support to more areas across the county.
- Supported living providers to deliver daytime opportunities for the people they support where appropriate to do so.
Everyone with an assessed care and support need will have their needs met, and those moving to a new arrangement will be fully supported throughout the process. The transition to new venues or new ways of doing things will be supportive, person-centred and needs led.
The proposed changes aim to increase voice, choice, and control for service users while ensuring sustainable, high-quality support.
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