Since January, South Tyneside Council has been consulting on the future of three of the residential care homes it operates - Beech Street, Gerald Street and Connolly House - as part of a wider drive to modernise adult social care.
The aim is to provide a better range of services that maximise people's independence and give them more control over the support they receive at a time of a national policy shift towards providing care closer to home.
Councillor Emma Lewell, Lead Member Independent and Healthy Lives, said: "Expectations around adult social care are changing and we need to modernise our services so that we can meet these. We recently held the first of our Big Care Debates, which was well attended, and early feedback shows that people want to remain at home for as long as possible.
"We need to put a real focus on investing in services that help people to maintain their independence for as long as possible. That means low use of residential care through high use of alternatives such as reablement services, which enable people to regain their independence in the event of a setback to their health. It also means investment in community services and technology."
Head of Adult Social Care, Jane Robinson, added: "We are faced with the challenge of modernising adult social care services against a backdrop of an ageing population and an expected 25 per cent reduction in our budgets over the next three to four years. The cost of running the three homes is high and an investment of just over £1million would be required to do repairs on them."
Gerald Street, in South Shields, and Beech Street, in Jarrow, provide a mix of long-term placements and, in cases of reablement and planned and emergency respite care, short stay accommodation.
Connolly House, in South Shields, provides long and short stay care for people with dementia.
During its consultation, the Council has heard from residents, their families, staff, trades unions and other interested groups and individuals.
And, having gathered all views and researched possible ways forward, it is now consulting on the following five options:
- Close Beech Street and Gerald Street - keep Connolly House open until the development of a new model of delivery for dementia care in the Borough.
- Maintain things as they are with the council continuing to operate all three homes.
- Keep Connolly House open until the development of a new model of delivery for dementia care and close either Gerald Street or Beech Street, keeping the remaining home in the medium-term.
- Transfer the Council homes to another provider.
- Close all three homes in the short-term.
Though the Council is consulting on all five of these options, its preferred option is to close Beech Street and Gerald Street and keep Connolly House open until a new model of delivery for dementia care is developed for the Borough.
The new model would include the provision of a dedicated dementia care unit in the Borough, and the Council is exploring partnership opportunities for the running of such a unit as well as potential sites for it.
Jane Robinson said: "We are consulting on all five options but, having considered the issue carefully, we feel that this one is the most appropriate given the financial difficulties the Council is facing.
"The current homes are of an age where they need considerable investment in full refurbishments if they are to meet the expectations of a modern, quality service providing care in a dignified manner.
"We are also facing the challenge of meeting an increased demand for adult social care with reducing resources, making it essential that we develop services that maximise people's independence and give them the opportunity to remain in the community.
"This option would allow us to move in that direction, while meeting the public's expectation that we have a dedicated dementia care unit in the Borough."
Councillor Lewell added: "I would like to stress again that no decisions have been made, and no decisions will be made until all of the care homes' residents, their families and staff have been given every possible opportunity to get involved in the consultation.
"We understand that this is an extremely emotive issue and one in which many people will want to give their views. We always listen to the views of local people before making any major decisions that could affect their lives. Every opinion will count.
"We want you to have your say. You can fill in an online form on the Council's website, or contact our Community Involvement Team by phone, letter or email."
Meetings with staff and trade unions will also take place during the consultation period, which runs until August 31.
Council officers will then analyse the findings of the consultation and come up with recommendations for Cabinet to consider in October.
For further information about the options up for consultation, or to fill in an online response form, log on to: www.southtyneside.info/carehomesquestionnaire
Comments on the proposals can also be put in writing to: Community Involvement Team, Level 3, South Shields Town Hall, Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 2RL.
Alternatively, email: consultationteam@southtyneside.gov.uk or call (0191) 424 7337.
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