Agenda item

To consider a report which sets out the outcomes following a consultation on the future delivery model for the council’s three Community Resource Centres at Cleeve Court, Combe Lea and Charlton House.  The online consultation took place between Thursday 9 November and Monday 18 December 2023.

Cllr Alison Born introduced the report, moved the officer recommendation, and made the following points:

·  The report demonstrates our commitment to support the most vulnerable groups in our community, to make the best possible use of council resources and to use those resources where they can add the most value and where the market has failed.

·  Our goal is to provide services locally whenever possible, which means that fewer people will be sent out of area. Providing services locally offers the advantages of maintaining links with family and friends, reduces costs and makes it easier for us to stay in touch and monitor how placements are going.

·  Scrutiny colleagues supported the feasibility study for change of the use of Charlton House, but some opposed the deregistration proposal.  As these proposals are linked, these two positions are incompatible.

·  When the Council took back control of the three care homes – Charlton House, Cleeve Court and Coombe Leigh - it increased staffing levels, invested in pay, training, equipment and in the fabric of the buildings. As a consequence, the costs of running the services have increased considerably and now exceed the costs of comparable services in the local market.

·  B&NES has a buoyant care home market with a good choice of provision.  The areas that are less well provided for are specialist dementia care and services for young people with degenerative conditions and physical dependences.  A lot of people who have more complex needs are now sent out of area because we do not have enough specialist education or care services.

·  The costs of delivering care through in-house services is justified if they provide more specialist care.  Therefore, it made sense to review whether we were making best use of these facilities and providing value for money for the council and residents.

·  A review was carried out in the summer of 2023, it focused on gaps in local provision, recruitment, affordability, and value for money.

·  A number of proposals were then consulted on.  The council received a total of 45 responses to the consultation. Over half (53%) of responses were positive towards the overall proposals for the community resource centres, nearly a third (31%) disagreed and 16% were unsure.

·  Suitable new places will be found nearby for the small number of residents for whom we will not be able to offer care and there will be no change to the costs paid by any resident who is funding their own care.

·  The recommended changes will enable us to optimise the use of these three council owned buildings which are of high quality and are purpose built. The proposed changes will allow us to target the use of these facilities on the areas of greatest need. The changes will also deliver much needed efficiencies and quality improvements in both adults’ and children’s services.

Cllr Paul May seconded the motion and made the following points:

·  Charlton House has a long history in Keynsham not only for its patients but its nearby elderly residents.  Before any steps are taken, the needs of the remaining residents living in the home are of first importance.

·  If agreed, the proposed residential school for young people with complex needs will be an exciting opportunity to provide a facility that we are very short of in BANES. This would be a SEND and care facility for our local young people, who currently have to travel outside of the BANES area to other providers, which is also more expensive.

·  Charlton House has bedrooms, two lounges, kitchens, offices, and meeting rooms. These facilities need to be assessed with changes being made and the funding from the DFE is already in place.

·  We are not only thinking about residential spaces for children but also respite facilities and continuing to work with the local community.

·  Such new facilities will help families, kinship care for the children as well as less out of area travelling for the children.

·  The needs of the residents must take priority and the council will work closely with the current residents and their families/representatives to find suitable alternative placements. Any staff affected by this change will be offered other roles within the council.  Once this has happened, then we have the opportunity to move forward with designing, planning and providing the new school in a sensitive way.

·  The new provision to help children with some of the most challenging needs and disabilities in our community will be a real asset to the council and local area.

Cllr Mark Elliot supported the proposals as they will enable people to remain in the local area which is also financially beneficial.  This will provide services that the market is currently not providing.

Cllr Manda Rigby noted that this proposal is a good use of council owned assets and an excellent example of joined up working.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

(1)  To develop Cleeve Court residential home into a centre of excellence for dementia care without nursing.

(2)  To enhance the offer at Combe Lea residential home to enable younger people with more complex needs to remain closer to home.

(3)  To de-register the remaining 10 places in use at Charlton House nursing home and then develop the site to provide a residential school for young people with complex needs.

(4)  To offer community groups/charitable organisations use of the day centre spaces at the community resource centres at a reduced rental rate.

(5)  To commence a full feasibility study in relation to the change of use for Charlton House to a residential school.