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.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Sandwich;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 16/09/2019
Decision due: Not before 16th Oct 2019 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: Alison Shepherd, Head of Provision Modernisation Tel: 03000 419436 Email: Alison.shepherd@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
Public consultation took place between May 2019 and July 2019: https://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/wayfarers/consultationHome
The decision was discussed and endorsed at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee Meeting on 27 September 2019.
Views from Members were considered at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee Meeting on 27 September and were incorporated into the proposed decision. All local members were briefed before the start of the consultation process.
Financial implications: If a decision is made to close Wayfarers and find alternative accommodation for residents there is a requirement to continue to maintain the building and service up to the point of closure and relocation of residents. Any future placements with a cost above KCC’s guide price would therefore be funded by KCC. None of the current residents would see an increase in the contribution towards their care or be charged additional fees either by KCC, or by alternative providers as a result of KCC’s proposal.
Legal implications: The council has a responsibility to assess people who have an appearance of need and options for meeting needs will be discussed. There is a duty to ensure all care home provision that the Council places residents in is safeguarding individuals and that effective contract management is in place.
Equalities implications: A full Equality Impact Assessment has been completed and reviewed taking into consideration the outcomes of the consultation.