Decision details

Background Information:

The future of the council owned and operated Wayfarers Care Home has been considered on at least three occasions since October 2010.  A previous public consultation carried out in 2015 considered KCC’s preferred options for four of its owned homes. This included a preferred option for Wayfarers to sell the home ‘as a going concern’ and approval was given through an executive decision in February 2016, to secure the sale of the home ‘as a going concern’.  This envisaged selling the home to an external provider with the successful bidder required to retain the building and the existing staff and being responsible for any future maintenance or upgrading of the building.  Despite a buyer being found, a decision had to be taken not to proceed with the sale as it was felt unviable for both parties.  The proposal put forward will support the KCC strategic objective that older and vulnerable residents are safe and supported with choices to live independently in modern and refurbished fit for purpose accommodation.

Decision:

Following the outcome of public consultation to close the current Wayfarers Care Home and for Kent County Council to seek to find a buyer for the building and its land and to explore Housing with Care options preferably in the Sandwich area; proceed with the alternative proposal received from the residents and staff of Wayfarers to relocate the Wayfarers service to an unused, purpose-built unit at Westbrook House, near Margate, and to find accommodation for any residents who instead may wish to move to alternative care homes; and delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health, or other nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision.