Issue - decisions

RESOLVED: (i)         That it be noted that, at a time when the number of elderly residents needing the reablement service is increasing, the Council needs to examine how the number of hours of the service can be increased, whilst also recognising the pressure on all budgets at this time.

(ii) That, after considering the City of York Council reviews, the changes that have happened to the in-house service in terms of unit costs and contact time, and after benchmarking these against the costs of local independent providers of the same service, agreement be given to:

a)progress purchasing the ongoing entire expanded reablement service from the independent sector, with staff to be offered the option of voluntary severance for business efficiency reasons, in addition to TUPE, as outlined in paragraphs 19-26 and 50-53 of the report;

b)                 review any further changes that may be need to the in-house service in order to maintain that provision;

c)                  request Officers to update the Executive on progress with the procurement process, the outcome of ongoing consultations, and the production of tables comparing the costs of provision of services (in-house and independent sector) and consequent outcomes;

d)                 request Officers to provide details of the Equalities Impact Assessments of any changes to the service.

REASON:      To allow the City to increase the scale of home-based support to older people in a way which is financially deliverable, provides employment security for staff and which seeks to maintain for as long as possible the independence of local residents.