Cabinet To Decide On Perrots Lodge Future

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet will decide next week whether to close one of its residential respite care homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Perrots Lodge in Haverfordwest is one of three such homes run by the Council, the others being Havenhurst, Milford Haven and Hillside in Goodwick. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s Older Persons, Health and Well- Being Overview and Scrutiny Committee decided last month to recommend to the Authority’s Cabinet to relinquish the lease on Perrots Lodge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In a report to Cabinet on Monday (25th April), the Director for Social Services and Leisure, Pam Marsden, says the demand for respite care can be accommodated by the two remaining care homes as well as the independent sector, as it is presently. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report goes on: “Over the last few years demand for respite in both Perrots Lodge and Havenhurst has reduced despite a number of attempts to market the services with social work staff and more generally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Last year we undertook a review of both facilities to enable us to begin to plan for services going forward. The review of Havenhurst supported the view that although the assessment beds and day centre were well used, the respite beds continued to be significantly underutilised. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The review of Perrots Lodge also confirmed a reduction in demand for this model of care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The feedback from service users and families about the transfer of care to Havenhurst over the last year has been positive and requests for respite have been accommodated. The average occupancy level in Havenhurst for respite has increased from 45 per cent to 85 per cent which means we are making better use of our resources.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are currently nine members of staff associated with Perrots Lodge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report continues: “Clearly if Cabinet agree to this proposal the staff concerned will be given support to find alternative permanent employment wherever possible.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report adds there is also a requirement to achieve £4 million in savings and efficiencies in Adult Social Care in 2016 – 2017 and in future years ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Perrots Lodge opened in 2007 and is leased by the Council from the Pembrokeshire Housing Association at a cost of £60,000 a year while the net budget for the facility for 2016 – 2017 is £350,000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​