Care Homes Review – Feedback Under The Spotlight

Feedback on the Council’s review of its care homes will be reported to members of Denbighshire’s Performance Scrutiny Committee next week, with recommendations for four establishments being scrutinised ahead of a Cabinet meeting on 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Scrutiny Committee, meeting at County Hall on Tuesday, April 12 will consider the responses from the consultation, as well as alternative proposals put forward during the consultation process. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After consideration of the feedback and the alternative proposals, the options favoured by the Task & Finish Group are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hafan Deg (Rhyl) – The council will enter into a partnership with an external organisation and transfer 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dolwen (Denbigh) – The council will enter into a partnership with an external organisation and transfer the whole service to them, whilst ensuring that Dolwen is registered to provide EMH care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Awelon (Ruthin) – The council will stop new admissions and work with the individuals and their families, at their own pace, to move them to suitable alternatives (as appropriate) and to enter into a partnership with the owner of Llys Awelon to develop additional Extra Care apartments on the site. However, it should be noted that Cabinet has agreed that nobody will be required to leave if they don’t want to and their needs can still be met there. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cysgod y Gaer (Corwen) – The council will enter 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Performance Scrutiny Committee will meet on Tuesday, April 12 at County Hall, Ruthin at 2.00pm where the proposals will be scrutinised. It should be noted that no final decision will be made at this meeting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A formal report will then be taken to the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, May 24. This date has been put back to enable sufficient time for any feedback from Scrutiny Committee to be given full consideration in the report. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​