To scrutinise the report and results of the consultation on the future of Greenacre Older Persons home and to provide the Executive with recommendations on the proposals for its future.

In accordance with the public participation procedure, two members of the public were invited to speak.  The first speaker raised the following:

·         Suggestions that any closure of the home be put on hold until the new provider had been registered with the Care Quality Commission.

·         The importance of undertaking checks on the financial viability of a provider prior to the start of a consultation phase.

·         Concerns that a provider could walk away from their contract should they fail to deliver.

·         That the Committee ought to consider a recommendation to keep the Greenacre Care Home open.

The second speaker raised the following:-

·         That consideration be given to the closure of the home, which is not fit for purpose for wheelchair users and the land be used by the Council to build and operate a new home.

·         Support for Council owning and running care homes rather than the private sector.

·         That when deciding on the new location of the step up, step down facility, the Council consider sites near public transport routes.

In response the Executive Member for Social Care & Housing advised that funding was not available for the Council to provide and run new care homes, however work with the private sector on recent developments had been successful.  Comments from the speakers and responses to the consultation had been taken into account and learning would be taken into account in the future.

The Head of Managing the Needs of Older People (MANOP) delivered a presentation that outlined the need for change to meet the accommodation needs for older people.  Greenacre did not meet the modern expectations and it would be expensive and impractical to update.

The Committee were also informed that other services located at Greenacre included a small day centre and a step up, step down short term residential reablement service.  It would be necessary to move these two services to new sites should it be decided to close the home. Residents, their families and staff at Greenacre had been invited to 1:1 meetings held at the home to discuss the proposals.  A full consultation had been published and the Director had asked for delegated authority to keep Greenacre open for as long it was necessary based on residents need.

A Member raised a concern regarding the registration of one of the care homes with CQC. In response the Head of MANOP advised the Council would need to reconsider its approach to the future of the home should Only Care Ltd not be successful in achieving registration.

Following the closure of Caddington Hall, a Member asked if lessons had been learnt and if learning would be used in preparation of the proposed closure of Greenacre?  In response the Head of MANOP advised residents would receive an early assessment of their needs and abilities.  Activities would be continued to maintain a positive atmosphere for those residents who remained at the home.

Members of the Committee were satisfied that the consultation process had been carried out in a comprehensive and diligent manner, however, but agreed with the view that  with the idea that financial checks of a potential new care home provider could be carried out sooner.

Members were also satisfied that the needs of staff had been fully considered and help to support them during the process had been put in place.

RECOMMENDED

1.    That the Committee recognised the need to offer improved accommodation for clients to meet modern physical and environmental standards and the increased expectation of our clients;

2.    That the Committee is satisfied that the consultation process had been carried out in a comprehensive and diligent manner;

3.    That in the future the investigation of the financial stability of a new provider is carried out and deemed satisfactory before consultation commences on the future of a home;

4.    That the Committee noted the dependency of the proposals on the provider of Rosewood Court achieving CQC registration;

5.    That the need to take account of the assessed eligible care and support needs of residents be emphasised;

6.    That account be taken of the effect of the closure on staff;

7.    That the Committee noted the need to explore further how the relocation of the day care centre was to take place;

8.    That the Committee noted the need to explore further where the step up, step down facility may be sited.