Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to provide Members with the results of the consultation undertaken with the residents, relatives and staff of Grove House and Oakhaven residential care homes to explore the option to close each home with current residents moving to alternative accommodation, and for Members to make a decision about whether to close Grove House and Oakhaven.

Resolved: That the Executive agree to:

(i)           Note that the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme aims to address the needs and aspirations of older people who need accommodation and care, both now and in the future, equipping York to meet their needs by delivering new Extra Care accommodation and good quality residential and nursing provision which meets modern day standards.

(ii)          Receive the outcome of the consultation undertaken with residents, family, carers and staff of Grove House and Oakhaven to explore the option to close each home with current residents moving to alternative accommodation.

(iii)        The closure of Grove House and Oakhaven residential care homes and require that residents’ moves to their new homes are carefully planned and managed in line with the Moving Homes Safely protocol.

               (iv)    The Grove House site being sold forthwith in order to generate a capital receipt to support the wider Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme.

(v)         The procurement of a partner to develop the Oakhaven site as a new Extra Care facility for Acomb.

Reason:    In order to increase the supply of good quality accommodation with care for independent living together with new residential and nursing home provision to address the changing needs and aspirations amongst York’s older population and ensuring that more can choose to live independently at home.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Adult Social Care which set out the results of the consultation undertaken with residents, relatives and staff of Grove House and Oakhaven residential care homes to explore the option to close the homes.  Members considered the issues raised as a result of the consultation responses and transition plan and future use of the Grove House and Oakhaven sites.

An email received from Rachael Maskell MP, in response to the consultation on care home closures, was also circulated at the meeting, in which a request was made for an extension of the deadline for closure and consultation in relation to accommodation in the Acomb area.

Officers acknowledged the difficulties in moving vulnerable residents but it was confirmed that this would be carried out in a sensitive manner and managed in line with the Council’s protocol.  However they highlighted the need to meet people’s changing needs and provide additional extra care, and new good quality, residential and nursing care accommodation.   In answer to earlier speakers comments they confirmed that there would be some flexibility around the timeline for resident’s moves, that consultation would be undertaken on the sites future use and that the capital receipts would be used to expand the provision of additional homes where possible.

Members confirmed that account had been taken of comments from both earlier speakers and the consultation comments and whilst they appreciated the difficulties involved in the transition process they wanted to ensure that residents were only moved once and that it was important to provide sufficient accommodation of a quality to meet residents’ expectations.

In answer to Members’ comments Officers also confirmed that the authority would continue work to provide additional elderly persons’ accommodation in the west of the city.

Following further discussion it was

Resolved: That the Executive agree to:

(i)           Note that the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme aims to address the needs and aspirations of older people who need accommodation and care, both now and in the future, equipping York to meet their needs by delivering new Extra Care accommodation and good quality residential and nursing provision which meets modern day standards.

(ii)          Receive the outcome of the consultation undertaken with residents, family, carers and staff of Grove House and Oakhaven to explore the option to close each home with current residents moving to alternative accommodation.

(iii)        The closure of Grove House and Oakhaven residential care homes and require that residents’ moves to their new homes are carefully planned and managed in line with the Moving Homes Safely protocol. ^1.

               (iv)    The Grove House site being sold forthwith in order to generate a capital receipt to support the wider Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme.

(v)         The procurement of a partner to develop the Oakhaven site as a new Extra Care facility for Acomb. ^2.

Reason:    In order to increase the supply of good quality accommodation with care for independent living together with new residential and nursing home provision to address the changing needs and aspirations amongst York’s older population and ensuring that more can choose to live independently at home.