Minutes:
Report by Mr Graham Gibbens, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Oliver Mills, Managing Director, Kent Adult Social Services (Mrs T Dean and Mr L Christie were present for this item as was Ms C Highwood, Director of Strategic Business Support, KASS )
(1) Kent Adult Social Services (KASS) was reviewing its capital provision, and specifically the in-house provision of residential services for older people. The drivers for this included the need to modernise services and to respond to changing demands, both as a result of predicted needs, and also the style of support that people were beginning to demand. At the same time the costs of the current service, together with the costs of any capital required for upkeep, and more critically for modernisation, would also have to be taken into account. The report therefore considered the potential options and opportunities and detailed the consultations to be undertaken to enable future decisions to be taken on modernising the service.
(2) Mr Gibbens gave a detailed explanation as to the reasons a review of these services was being undertaken. He spoke about the need to look carefully at the current levels of provision and how that could be better matched to meet future needs and demand. Whilst there would always be a need to provide residential care, Mr Gibbens said current evidence suggested that in future more people would, with appropriate support, wish to stay in their own homes.
(3) Mr Gibbens said looking at some of the facilities currently in use it was obvious there were buildings and facilities that were in great need of modernisation and costly to run. The report therefore detailed a number of options for the future of 12 of the 16 care homes in Kent which because they were older buildings and did not have the facilities to meet modern expected standards, needed to be part of an assessment as to their long term suitability as care homes. Therefore said Mr Gibbens whilst moving forward in looking at the options would inevitably create anxiety and concerns for residents, their families and staff, the opportunity had to be taken now to look at ways to modernise services and to provide the quality of care expected in a modern environment
(4) During the course of discussion Mr Christie asked questions relating to the number of beds and staff likely to be affected. Officers advised that some 282 people were served by the existing homes of which 105 had permanent residency. The remainder were either respite or short term clients. The 6 homes mentioned for possible closure had between them a total of some 378 staff which equated to 184 FTE,
(5) Mrs Dean asked questions around how members would continue to be involved as the consultation process progressed. She also asked about the involvement of local members and how would the decisions be taken; individually or as package. Mrs Dean also asked whether KCC withdrawing from this sector in the way proposed would have an effect on future prices paid in the private sector. Mrs Dean also asked what checks would be made on those companies or organisations KCC may consider going into partnership with at some future date. She also said she felt the helpline designed to keep people informed needed to be open 24/7 and that the Council should be seen to be doing all it could to keep people informed as to how they are going to be helped and supported through this process.
(6) Mr Gibbens said that when the time came he expected all decisions would be taken at the same time but on an individual basis. He would be writing to all members of the Council inviting them to a briefing and this matter would also be discussed at the next meeting of the Adult Social Services Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee. There would also be measures in place to ensure local members as well as Mrs Dean, Mr Christie and the other members of the Council were kept informed as the consultation process progressed. Mr Mills said that he and his officer team were very much aware of the concerns which Mrs Dean and Mr Christie had raised and they would be doing everything they could to ensure that the consultation process was undertaken with care, sensitivity and transparency. Mr Mills also said he would keep a close eye on the price issue raised by Mrs Dean but he did not expect that would in the event be an issue. He also said that any potential partners would be appropriately vetted as to their suitability and ability to give a long term commitment. There would also be one to one help and support to residents and their families and all this would be started immediately.
(7) In concluding the discussion Mr Carter thanked Mrs Dean and Mr Christie for attending the meeting and said whilst some tough decisions needed to be taken. This was only the launch of the consultation process. He therefore agreed that the consultation process should now commence on the basis set out in the report and described during the course of the discussion. He also said consideration would be given at the end of the consultation as to whether the decisions would be taken by Cabinet or by the Portfolio Holder.
(8) Resolved
(a) the consultation process into options by which it was intended to modernise the facilities available to older people as described in the Cabinet report be endorsed and
(b) future decisions on the transfer to an independent sector provider or on closure should be entered on the Forward Plan, and only be taken after discussion in the Adult Social Services Policy Overview and Cabinet Scrutiny Committee, at the appropriate time
Supporting documents: