Agenda item

Kirsty Everson, Director of Independent Living presented the submitted report in relation to the petitions received in respect of Extra Care Housing.

The first scheme “Oak Trees Resourced Centre” opened on 3^rd April, 2006 and the second scheme “Potteries Court” opened on 16^th April, 2007, and “Bakersfield Court” opened 9^th March, 2009.

The current staffing arrangements at Potteries Court and Oak Trees provided a team of Care Enablers who were based on site covering 24 hours, 7 days per week.  The staff group were currently carrying out a dual role in relation to the delivery of both personal care and housing support.  There was a dedicated team of night staff who were based at Potteries and Oak Trees; however there were no service users who received planned care or support throughout the night.

The current staff group had spare capacity in that there were substantial numbers available where no care and support were required.  Although this fluctuated dependent on the changes in service users care packages, there was still an obligation to ensure that staff resources were maximised.

Discussions were held with the Director of Health and Wellbeing and it was proposed that the Care Enablers be transferred across to Health and Wellbeing to be managed as part of Domiciliary Care Services under the Registered Care Managers.  This would allow spare staffing capacity to be used more flexibly as part of the broader Care Enablement service and would also see the care managed as part of the Council’s registered domiciliary care service with the Care Quality Commission.  It was also proposed that a separate staff group should be created to deliver dedicated Housing Support Services in line with Supporting People expectations, and to make better use of the income being received from each tenant in relation to this service.

Discussions took place with individual Care Enablers to explain the proposals and to obtain any preferences.  The Housing Support roles were also agreed and were advertised on an expression of interest basis. 

A consultation process took place with tenants at Potteries Court and Oak Trees, which comprised of a letter to all tenants outlining the changes, followed by a number of face to face meetings with tenants, family members and Local Councillors.  The outcome of this consultation had so far resulted in resistance around the removal of the “on site” 24 hour care; even though very few residents had high care needs.  This perception went against the ethos of independence which Extra Care services should promote.  Expectations about responses in an emergency had become akin to residential care, rather than the response that should be supported to enable continued independence.

The most contentious issue raised was that there would not be a presence in the buildings 24 hours, 7 days per week.  This was due to people not feeling safe, and there not being anyone to pick up emergency calls through the warden control system immediately.  The proposal was to use Rothercare to replicate emergency response delivery in the community.

The concept of the Housing Support Team was taken on board by tenants, who could see the benefits but felt unable to comment at this stage due to it being a new team.

The delivery of the new arrangements would now be piloted at Bakersfield Court.  This would mean that there would be no dedicated staff team based at Bakersfield but that customers would be supported to access services within the locality.  This would include RMBC Care Enablers and other independent sector providers.

Further meetings on the outcome of this would be fed back to tenants at Potteries Court and Oak Trees in the next few months. This means that there will be no changes to care arrangements at Potteries and Oak Trees for the immediate future.

The new arrangements at Bakersfield Court would be monitored and a further report would be submitted in July evaluating how they had worked with a view to rolling out the working practice to Potteries Court and Oak Trees.

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were discussed:

• Concerns were raised that to continue with the current service at Oak Trees and Potteries would have an adverse effect on the budget set for the next financial year.  It was confirmed that the medium term financial strategy had taken into consideration the current situation and costs would actually be reduced within the budget if they were to be run the same way as Bakersfield Court.

Resolved:- (1) That the report and the action taken to date be noted

(2) That the outcomes of the consultation process be noted

(3) That a further report be brought to the Cabinet Member in July, evaluating how well the new arrangements were working at Bakersfield Court.