Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Modernisation of Residential and Day Care or just cutting another service?
Cabinet has agreed to further consult on specific proposals for future residential care services across Rhondda Cynon Taf, having considered feedback from an extensive consultation and scrutiny process. Members also decided to implement a proposed new model for the future delivery of day care services.
On Wednesday, September 11, Cabinet considered Officer recommendations in relation to the future delivery of residential care services, following a consultation process earlier this year and the recent considerations of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A report to Members recommended which care homes should be retained and invested in, alongside significant investment in Extra Care.
The preferred option consulted upon by the Council earlier this year was to retain and invest in key Local Authority care homes, which will focus on complex care and respite. The proposals considered by Cabinet on Wednesday recommended the Council continues to play a leading role in the delivery of residential care – ensuring local access to the in-house provision is available to all those who choose it.
Modernisation of Residential and Day Care
Cabinet agreed with the recommendations during Wednesday’s meeting, and the Council will now initiate a further 12-week consultation this autumn.
For daycare services, the preferred option consulted upon was a phased introduction of a new model of universal services and opportunities for older people – including the utilisation of Extra Care and Community Hubs. This model will now be developed by the Council, following an agreement by Cabinet on Wednesday.
Members agreed that there will be no changes to daycare services until a new and better provision has been proposed. The Cabinet has committed to engaging staff and service users in the development and modernisation of this service moving forward.
Councillor Geraint Hopkins, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Community Services, said: “The 12-week consultation earlier this year allowed the Council to undertake a listening exercise – to seek the views of members of the public, staff, carers and most importantly older people who are currently supported by our older people’s services across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“The report considered today makes clear that it is not possible for the Council to meet the changing needs of older people within its current residential care homes – and this was a key consideration for Cabinet in choosing to further consult on these proposals.
“The proposals are being developed to deliver better care facilities for elderly residents – both now and in the future, for a new generation of older people with different expectations. Change is required now, and therefore it is important for the Council to take proactive steps now to respond to changing future needs. This is why we are committed to investing in and modernising our provision for older people.
“Older people across Rhondda Cynon Taf are already choosing to access care from the independent sector, and the proposals considered by Cabinet Members on Wednesday seek to improve the offer available. The consultation feedback made it clear that members of the public want the Council to continue its lead in the delivery of residential care, and in doing so provide an improved range of services for residents with complex needs. This has been reflected in the recommendation that the Council agreed today.
“These proposals would provide residents with more choice in the future, across an improved range of options and specialisms. Those care homes proposed to be retained would be invested in, to adapt for the future.
“Our proposals offer the opportunity for larger Extra Care facilities to be managed by the Council’s current workforce, which is extremely valued. Cabinet also committed today that, should these proposals progress, the Council would seek to avoid compulsory redundancies.
“Cabinet’s decision on Wednesday was informed by the extensive consultation and scrutiny into these proposals – I would therefore once again urge members of the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation. The Council will shortly communicate details about what the consultation will entail, and how local people can take part.”
The ongoing modernisation programme for Adult Services includes a £50m investment in Extra Care across Rhondda Cynon Taf, bringing the total number of Extra Care places to 300 across the County Borough. Construction is underway on two of the five new facilities – at the former Maesyffynnon Residential Care Home site in Aberaman, and the former Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court site in Graig.
————————-
Cabinet Members have now agreed to further consult on the following proposals in relation to the future delivery of residential care across Rhondda Cynon Taf:
CARE HOMES TO BE RETAINED
- Clydach Court Residential Care Home, Trealaw.
- Ferndale House Residential Care Home, Ferndale.
- Pentre House Residential Care Home, Pentre.
- Tegfan Residential Care Home, Trecynon.
- Troedyrhiw Residential Care Home, Mountain Ash.
- Cae Glas Residential Care Home, Hawthorn.
- Parc Newydd Residential Care Home, Talbot Green.
CARE HOMES PROPOSED TO BE DECOMMISSIONED
- Bronllwyn Residential Care Home, Gelli.
- Ystradfechan Residential Care Home, Treorchy.
- Dan y Mynydd Residential Care Home, Porth.
- Garth Olwg Residential Care Home, Church Village.
It is proposed that if any home(s) were decommissioned this would be done on a phased basis, dependent on individual circumstances. These include alternative accommodation becoming available or new extra-care facilities opening.
The Extra Care developments will provide an additional 300 beds, while the de-commissioning of the four homes, if agreed, would remove circa 96 registered beds.
In total, 372 responses were received in relation to the review of Council-run residential services, and 125 regarding changes to day care services. In July 2019, the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertook a valuable exercise to pre-scrutinise this issue – the third opportunity it has had to do so.
