Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member for Social Services introduced the report which sought approval to begin a review of Residential Care Home provision in Flintshire as both a commissioner and a provider. 

There was a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure a sufficient supply of Care Home provision within its area.  Based on reductions in local supply within the independent sector and budget pressures on the Council, a review was timely and the issues being faced were outlined in the report.

An assessment of the local market in Flintshire was summarised in the report which included local authority residential care and independent sector residential care.

On new approaches to supporting people, Flintshire had already developed two Extra Care Schemes which offered 111 high quality apartments, 96 of which were for general needs and 15 being dementia units.  There was a plan to open a further 74 apartments in a new Scheme in Flint which would include 15 additional apartments for people with dementia.  The Council was also committed to develop a fourth scheme of approximately 50 to 60 units of extra care in Holywell.  Extra care provided better housing, ensured greater independence and choice for older people and would be seen as a model of support as a real alternative to long term care provision.

A list of initial potential scenarios that could warrant consideration were outlined in the report, noting that the list was not exhaustive.

The Chief Officer (Social Services) commented on the Council action plan which was in response to the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales Review (A Plan to Call Home – A Review into the Quality of Life and Care of Older People Living in Care Homes in Wales).

Consultation would be undertaken with all stakeholders including residents, families, staff, trade unions, local communities, partners, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) and the Older People’s Commissioner.  Initial consultation would be undertaken with the Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the form of the consultation exercise.

In response to a comment by the Cabinet Member for Waste Strategy, Public Protection and Leisure, the Chief Officer (Social Services) said the Chancellor’s recent announcement on the rise in the minimum wage would be fully considered during the review.

The Chief Executive emphasised that there was no pre-determined outcome on the provision of residential care and that a balance needed to be found based on supply and demand and cost and quality.  The review would not be rushed as a result of the budget pressures facing the Council and the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales would be involved as part of the process.  Contact would also be made with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) on how the market could be developed.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance added that the review would balance the needs of the community and the overall health agenda.

RESOLVED:

That it be approved that the Council enters into an initial engagement exercise with stakeholders about the future market provision of Residential Care Home provision in Flintshire.