Care Homes Proposals Under The Spotlight

Recommendations on the future of in-house care services provided by Denbighshire County Council are set to be debated by the Council’s Cabinet meeting in Ruthin next week (Tuesday, May 24). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An Elected Member Task and Finish Group was set up to “examine value for money options for delivering high quality social care services in the county”. Following a thorough review of the needs of individuals currently using these services, options were drawn up for Hafan Deg (Rhyl), Dolwen (Denbigh), Cysgod y Gaer (Corwen) and Awelon (Ruthin). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This was followed by three months of consultation, involving several public events and meetings with users of the services, staff and unions, where people were able to have their say on the proposals. The issue also generated widespread media and social media coverage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following a discussion by members of Denbighshire’s Performance Scrutiny Committee in April, the following recommendations have now been put forward for decision by Cabinet: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Hafan Deg (Rhyl) – that the Council explores a potential partnership with an external organisation with a view to transferring the building to them, commissioning a day care service within the building and, in addition, enabling 3rd sector agencies to provide early intervention activities for older people that reduce social isolation, support independence and promote resilience. The work in relation to this option should include comparative cost, quality of care and Welsh language provision analysis between the current service and any potential future service;
• Dolwen (Denbigh) – that the Council explores a potential partnership with an external organisation with a view to potentially transferring the building and the whole service to them, whilst ensuring that Dolwen is registered to provide EMH day and residential care. The work in relation to this option should include comparative costs, quality of care and Welsh language provision analysis between the current service and any potential future service;
• Awelon (Ruthin) – that the Council explores in detail the three options put forward in relation to this establishment and that the work in relation to these options include comparative costs, quality of care and Welsh language provision analysis between the current service and each of the three options;

The options are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Option 1 (Cabinet’s preferred option): The council will enter into a partnership with the owner of Llys Awelon to develop additional Extra Care apartments on the site, replacing the existing residential and community provision. However, it should be noted that Cabinet has agreed that no resident will be required to leave if they don’t want to and their needs can still be met in the residential provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Option 2: To work in partnership with a registered social landlord, health services and the 3rd sector to develop a range of services, transferring half of the building to develop additional extra care flats, possibly as an extension to Llys Awelon, while using the remainder as a small residential unit which could be used to meet the need for respite care and to ensure that no existing resident would need to move unless they chose to. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Option 3: (Suggestion from some Members) The council should engage with BCUHB to investigate the feasibility of developing additional nursing care capacity in Ruthin which would then enhance the offer for older people in the Ruthin area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Cysgod y Gaer (Corwen) – that the council explores entering into a partnership with relevant stakeholders (including BCU and the 3rd sector) to develop the site into a ‘support hub’ offering both residential and extra care type facilities as well as an outreach domiciliary care and support service to the tenants of local Sheltered Housing Schemes and the wider population of Corwen and the surrounding area; a
• Upon completion of the above an analysis of each of the options in relation to each establishment is presented to Performance Scrutiny Committee for examination.

The meeting will take place at County Hall, Ruthin on Tuesday, May 24 at 10am. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​