Residential Care Contract Negotiations Nearing Conclusion

Members of Neath Port Talbot’s Social Care, Health and Housing Cabinet Board have given permission for officers to conclude negotiations on changes to the Council’s residential care contract with Pobl Group. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following detailed discussions, both parties have reached agreement on variations to the contract which will take effect from 1st April 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Under the revised contract, the Council will guarantee to purchase 80% of the beds in four residential care homes across the county borough that are managed by Pobl. These include two new homes, Llys y Seren in Baglan which opened in 2014 and Plas Bryn Rhosyn in Neath which opened in 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trem y Glyn Residential Care Home in Glynneath will be refurbished and the roof will be replaced, allowing it to remain open until 31st March 2022. During this time the Council will constructively engage with interested parties to support the development of a business case for running Trem-y-Glyn as a Community Asset or Social Enterprise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The arrangements for Dan y Bryn Residential Care Home in Pontardawe will be extended for an additional five years until 31st March 2027. A review of any further potential extension for Dan y Bryn will be carried out by July 2025. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The two new homes that were originally planned for Croeserw and Glynneath will not be built. Following the development of transition plans, residents of Arwelfa have moved to alternative homes and Arwelfa will close on 31st March 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Supported housing planned for the Afan Valley will be delivered as part of the revised contract and will feature specially designed units for older people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nick Jarman, Director of Social Services, Health and Housing said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The review of this contract has been a hugely difficult process, but one that we had a responsibility to undertake given the significant reduction in demand for residential care since 2012 when the contract started. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Pobl which will allow us to deliver on the proposals that went out to public consultation and were subsequently approved by Cabinet last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The revised arrangements will realign the amount of residential accommodation in the contract to reflect current circumstances and predictions for future demand.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​