Proposed decision: Subject to the outcome of consultation, to agree for the County Council to:
1. Commission alternative services to accommodate the residents and service users of the Dorothy Lucy Centre
2. Transfer residents and service users to alternative provision
3. Close the Dorothy Lucy Centre
The proposed decision relates to Corporate Objectives and there are a number of strategies and frameworks that need to be considered:
· Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement 2015 – 2020
· The Care Act 2014
· KCC Adult Social Care Transformation Programme
· Facing the Challenge: Delivering Better Outcomes
· The Kent Accommodation Strategy which is the over-riding Market Position Statement for Kent
Financial Implications:
The current budget for the service will be reallocated to the commissioned services, the cost of which will be known once services are secured. There will be associated costs relating to redundancy and retirement, which will be known following the formal staff consultation period. It is expected that savings could be in the region of £600k.
Legal Implications:
The County Council has a statutory responsibility to accommodate people assessed as requiring residential care services. There is a duty to make sure that all care home provision in which the council places residents is safeguarding individuals and that effective contract management is in place.
Equality Implications:
An Equalities Impact Assessment has been completed for the overall project. Individual EqIAs will be completed to accompany the recommendation report and proposed decision.
The matter is referred to in the Directorate’s Business Plan/Medium Term Capital Programme.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Maidstone Central; Maidstone North East; Maidstone Rural East; Maidstone Rural West; Maidstone South; Maidstone South East;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 23/02/2016
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt - View reasons
Explanation of anticipated restriction:
Supporting material for the recommendation report will contain commercially-sensitive information
Decision due: Not before 22nd Mar 2016 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Christy Holden, Head of Children's Commissioning 03000 415356.
Consultees
At the meeting of the Adult Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee on 11 September 2015, Members were given the opportunity to comment on the proposals before the start of formal public consultation. The committee resolved that the proposal for consultation be endorsed.
An update on the formal consultation process was provided to the Adult Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee on 3 December 2015.
A recommendation report was presented to the Adult Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee on 14 January 2016. The committee resolved that further work be undertaken and a formal proposal brought to its next meeting. Accordingly, a recommendation report setting out the proposed Cabinet Member decision was presented to the committee on 10 March 2016 and the outcome of this included in the decision paperwork the Cabinet Member signed by the Cabinet Member.
Subsequent to the Cabinet Committee meeting, the Cabinet Member had further discussion with some local members, during which greater clarity was provided about the proposed order of closing the various elements of the services currently provided at the Dorothy Lucy Centre.
Other consultation planned or undertaken:
The County Council has a duty to undertake formal consultation on any proposed changes to services. The procedure for consultation on modernisation/variation or closure of establishments for Social Care will be followed.
A range of stakeholders have been informed in writing and invited to comment on the proposal.
A meeting has been held with staff, residents and relatives of the home and the minutes of this meeting have been circulated to all participants and posted on the consultation webpage.
A summary of the consultation timetable and the responses to the consultation will be set out in the recommendation report.
Financial implications: Christy Holden, Head of Commissioning (Accommodation) Christy.holden@kent.gov.uk 03000 415356
Legal implications: 16/00007