Decision details

The Group Director, Community & Children Services provided Members with a detailed overview of his report in respect of modernisation of residential care and day care for older people within Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Members were reminded that In September 2017 Cabinet requested that a comprehensive review of residential and day care services for older people be undertaken in order to determine future opportunities for service delivery in line with the Council’s strategy for accommodation for older people and provision of extra care. Following Cabinet’s request the Council commissioned Practice Solutions Ltd to undertake an independent review of residential and day care services for older people within Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Group Director provided details in respect of the residential provision and day care provision within the County Borough before expanding on the options identified by the review undertaken.  The Group Director sought Cabinet approval to consult with people in receipt of care and support, their families and carers, staff and other stakeholders on the options for residential care homes and day care provision to enable the Council to make an informed decision on the future of this provision in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Community Services & Welsh Language spoke of the  positive opportunities the review had brought forward, for Members to review the current provision and allow the Council to continue with its duties that it owes to its residents for the here and now and also the duty it owes for the future generations.  The Cabinet Member spoke of the  Extra Care Strategy and the review options, commenting that it was important that the Council continues to retain a presence  within the care market within RCT and the good geographical spread.  The Cabinet Member welcomed the consultation proposal, and spoke of the importance of the voice of the  public which would  assist Cabinet in its deliberations when looking at the best way forward.

At this point in the meeting County Borough Councillor P Jarman and Mr P Crews ( on behalf of the Joint Trade Union Group – Unison, GMB and Unite) spoke on the item.

The Leader responded to the comments speaking on the concerns raised in respect of staffing and the Leader assured Members that no compulsory redundancies would be made as part of the review.  He also took the opportunity to speak of the high standards of work undertaken by the dedicated staff within the provision.  He also acknowledged that independent advocacy would be provided within the consultation.

Following discussions it was RESOLVED:

1.    That following detailed consideration of the report and the results of the independent review undertaken by Practice Solutions Ltd in respect of the future service delivery model for the Council’s Residential Care Homes and Day Care Services within Rhondda Cynon Taf:-

a)    To initiate a 12 week public, resident and staff consultation on the future service delivery model for the Council’s Residential Care Homes and specifically on the proposed preferred option, as set out in section 6 of the report, namely that the Council retains a level of provision of Residential Care Homes which are focussed on providing complex care and respite. The level of provision retained would be based on a determination of the market share and need required in each of the Rhondda, Cynon and Taf geographical areas.

b)    To receive a further report summarising the results of the consultation exercise and feedback received prior to any decision being made in relation to the proposal.

c)    That on commencement of the consultation process restricts admissions to the Council’s internal Residential Care Homes, other than in exceptional circumstances where an appropriate alternative placement that can meet the assessed need is not available. This is in order to minimise any potential impact on service users until such time as Cabinet considers the results of that consultation exercise and any decision it may take in relation to the proposal.

d)    To Initiate a 12 week public and staff consultation on the options regarding the future of the Council’s day service provisions for older people and specifically on the proposed preferred option, as set out in section 7 of the report, namely a phased decommissioning of the Council's day services as part of a planned programme of transformation in line with a proposed new service model; and

e)    To receive a further report summarising the results of that consultation exercise and feedback received prior to any decision being made in relation to the proposals.

County Borough Councillor R Bevan:

“As granted by the Standards Committee on the 8th December, 2017 I have a dispensation to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Community and Children’s Services Group, save for any specific matters that directly affect my daughter, who is employed by the Council in the Community and Children’s Services Group as the Service Manager for Access and Enablement.”