A report looking at the next steps for Bradford Council's review of residential and day care services for older people will go before a meeting of the Executive next month.
The report, which will be debated on 10 February, outlines the current position of the service since three homes - Laurence House, Meadowcroft and Thackley Grange - closed in October 2011 and all long and short stay service users were successfully found suitable alternative accommodation.
The report recommends that consultation starts in February on the future of three further care homes - Holme View in Holmewood, Neville Grange in Shipley and Harbourne in Wibsey. None of the three homes meet the revised standards introduced by the Care Quality Commission and have restricted use.
Work started on a large-scale review of the Council's residential and day care services at the end of 2008 to meet the challenges of a growing older population. A number of issues were raised: service users entering residential care have complex needs and require a more specialist environment; service users and carers will have higher expectations for residential care (e.g. en suite facilities); the costs of in-house residential services compared with the independent sector; the need to build on the Council's success in developing alternatives to residential care, such as extra care housing; and the condition of the Council's residential homes, all built between 1968 and 1989 with most not meeting current new-build standards.
A number of feasibility studies and consultations have taken place since then on how best to meet these challenges over the next ten years.
In December 2010 the Executive agreed to pursue funding to build a small number of new high specification care homes. The Council also hopes to build on the success of alternatives to residential homes, such as extra care housing (where people live independently in accommodation that has 24 hour care assistance on site when needed) and supporting services that enable people to stay in their own homes for longer.
Moira Wilson, Bradford Council’s Strategic Director Adult and Community Services, said: "We are acting now to ensure older people in future years have the highest possible standards of care, services to meet their individual needs and have a range of options on where they live."
Coun Amir Hussain, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Adult Services, said: "This is part of a long-term strategy which began over three years ago. With a rising population of older people we need to make changes to ensure everyone can get the care or services they need at the same time as meeting the challenges of tighter finances."
Following the closures last year the Council now runs eight residential care homes with total capacity of 261 beds. Each of these homes provides a range of long and short stay services. The homes also provide day care services.
The report will be considered at the Council’s Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 1 February.
