Meeting documents

Meeting with residents, relatives and carers at

Woodside 20 January 2004 at 4pm

Present:

David Smallacombe, Project Leader

Cllr Paul Crossley, Leader of the Council,

Cllr Francine Haeberling

Jane Shayler, Head of Housing and Supported Living

Yvonne Case, Residential Services Team Manager

Sarah Shatwell, Group Manager

Pam Reeve, Group Administrator

Residents and relatives:

Mr and Mrs Bolton

Mr Hellyer

Ms W Shawers

Ms Julie Buchan

Mrs S Richardson

Mr and Mrs Spanswick

Mr and Mrs Kitts

Apologies received from Mr P Creton, Mr Kernan, Mrs Webster, Mr Ord, Mr G Jones, and Mr Cattell

David Smallacombe (DS) asked everyone present to introduce themselves and explained that we would make notes of the meeting which would be available to residents and relatives. The notes would record who was present, but would not say who had asked questions or made comments.

DS explained that the Council was implementing a programme of reprovision of care in three Centres of Excellence, one in Bath, one in Keynsham and one in Midsomer Norton. The Council is a good way through the process, architects and builders have been appointed and there have been discussions with planners. DS had given those attending the initial consultation meeting in 2002 at Woodside to understand that there would be no interim move for residents pending completion of the new Centres. DS acknowledged that at the time the plan was for residents to stay at Woodside until the newly-built homes were ready, but the situation had changed. He introduced Sarah Shatwell (SS) who would be able to explain more.

SS said that in December 2003 a decision was made to consult on the possible closure of Tyndale and Woodside. This situation had arisen because of an overspend of the service budget during the current year. Unless action was taken by the Council, the overspend for the next year would be worse. SS looked at various criteria in relation to the present homes. Woodside had a high level of staff vacancies, over 200 staff hours per week which had to be filled by agency workers. Resources used to pay agencies were needed to train B&NES staff to care for people with the higher levels of dependency that are expected in future. B&NES preferred to have in-house, full-time permanent staff. Occupancy levels are low, 82%, across the whole service over the last year. Dependency levels in both Tyndale and Woodside covered a wide range. Each home requires between £2-300,000 for building work to maintain it over the next 2/3 years. SS had considered the other homes, but these were ruled out for the following reasons - Goldney House and Hawthorn House both provide services to North East Somerset, while Bath is well-supplied with homes; Sunnyside cares specifically for people with dementia for whom there would be no alternative provision, similarly it would be difficult to find alternative placements for residents at Green Park.

There are three aspects to the consultation 1) a full community care assessment for each resident 2) meetings with staff to discuss their wishes 3) meetings with relatives and carers to keep them informed and involved in the process. SS expects the consultation to take 2-3 months and when all the information is collated, a further report will be written for the Council's Executive committee. This report will form the basis of the Executive's decision about closures.

A relative asked how long residents would have to stay in the interim placement. DS said that a resident in a Council home could stay as long as they wished, but he could not give any assurances about placement in the independent sector. At present there are approximately 45 people for about 32 places, but a number of people at Tyndale are thinking of moving relatives to accommodation in Wiltshire, or to the independent sector so that they can remain in the Bathford area. Residents in Council homes would go into the new Centres of Excellence in due course. At present we are considering the question of residents going to the independent sector now and wanting to return to the Centres of Excellence when they are built.

A relative said that some independent homes were not purpose-built and standards were not high. FH said that all homes were now regulated by the National Care Standards Commission.

A relative said there may not be a choice of staying in Bath, there might only be vacancies in Temple Cloud or Keynsham. JS - vacancies will increase, admissions have been stopped now and some residents will leave the area or go to the independent sector. Those who want to stay in Council homes in the Bath area would probably be able to do so. It is not possible to make absolute promises, but we would certainly try to accommodate residents where they wanted to live.

A relative said that when they were looking for a residential placement, they found the independent sector was too expensive. They have been very pleased with the care at Woodside and would be happy with Council care in another home. The situation was making their relative most anxious at present.

DS - appreciate that residents are anxious and it is a difficult time for everyone. The Council has to obtain information before making a decision, it would not be right to do it any other way.

Other relatives also praised the care given at Woodside, and DS said that standard of care would continue.

A relative said it seemed fairly certain that Tyndale and Woodside would close, and two moves would be disorientating for residents. Their relative had originally wanted to go to a Christian residential home in Bristol and a vacancy was available now. What would be the situation if resident moved now, would the Council pay.

DS - there is a ceiling for funding, but these are exceptional circumstances and the Council could be flexible. When Greenacres closed we did pay a bit over the usual threshold. Any resident is entitled to move whenever they wish, and if an appropriate vacancy has occurred, it would be as well to take the opportunity now regardless of the situation at Woodside.

A relative who came from Bristol asked where the homes were in Bath, and when the new buildings would be ready. DS - Green Park is near the centre of town and Marjorie Whimster in Twerton. FH pointed out that Hawthorn House in Keynsham was nearer Bristol. DS said the first of the new Centres of Excellence would probably be ready in late 2006.

A relative said that they too were very happy with Woodside, and asked if there would be any stability during the interim period. DS - difficult to know, as we will have to reduce the number of homes from 8 to 5. JS said Hawthorn House will be the basis for one of the Centres of Excellence, but while building work is being done there, residents will have to be moved out.

A relative enquired if nursing care would be provided in Centres of Excellence. DS - that is the aim, that there should be a wide range of care available to suit all needs.

DS said that the next contact residents and relatives had would be from the social workers who would be carrying out the community care assessments. He thanked everyone for attending and confirmed a further meeting would be called after the consultations are finished and before the report to the Council Executive is made public.

Meeting closed at 5pm