Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Adult Social Care Item 2

30 September 2005

Re provision of Respite services - Pier House

Report by the Director of Adult Services

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

1. The Executive Member support the proposal to consult on reprovision of respite services from Pier House and that the process of consultation is completed by the end of November 2005 with the outcome presented to them for decision in December following a consideration of issue by the PRC.

2

Reason(s)

2.1

This decision supports Aim 1 of the Corporate Strategy by - maximising life opportunities by assisting timely delivery of caring services and Aim 5 - making sure services continuously improve.

2.2

Pier House is a three-storey Elderly Persons Home formed from the conversion of a former hotel, with single storey additions to the rear. The site is small, with little on-site parking. It is situated immediately on Lee-on-Solent seafront.

2.3

Pier House originally catered for 40 residents, this was reduced to 31 and following HSE and Health and Safety concerns the numbers were reduced in 1999 to 15. This was due to poor fire integrity of the building, and advice was given not to use the third floor.

2.4

It has been concluded that Pier House does not meet the expectation of the Commission for Social Care Inspection in terms of being `fit for purpose' which is a term used within the Care Standards Act 2000. The main consideration here is to identify whether a building meets the needs of the current (and future) service users. With increasing frailty, both physically and mentally, bedroom sizes are the most important factor. This enables carers to use additional equipment such as hoists and electric profiling beds to ensure safe moving and handling of residents. The Pier House building does not easily lend itself to these requirements, nor would it currently meet the registration requirements for the provision of services to Physically Disabled adults or for Learning Disability clients.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

None

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1

None

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

None

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date:

.........................

Councillor Patricia Banks

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Adult Social Care

30 September 2005

Re provision of Respite services - Pier House

Report by the Director of Adult Services

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

This scheme will impact on the delivery of the following Corporate Aims

Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities by assisting timely delivery of caring services

Aim 5 - making sure services continuously improve

1.

Summary

1.1

This paper brings together work that has been undertaken by Social Services and Property Business and Regulatory Services regarding Pier House which is one of Hampshire County Council Older Persons Homes.

1.1.2

1.1.3

This work has focused on two key areas these being the overall asset management of the building and its fitness for purpose to meet the needs of current and future service users

It has been concluded by Adult Services that Pier House does not meet the expectation of the Commission for Social Care Inspection in terms of being `fit for purpose' which is a term used within the Care Standards Act 2000.The main consideration here is to identify whether a building meets the needs of the current (and future) service users. With increasing frailty, both physically and mentally, bedroom sizes are the most important factor. This enables carers to use additional equipment such as hoists and electric profiling beds to ensure safe moving and handling of residents. The Pier House building does not easily lend itself to these requirements nor would it currently meet the registration requirements for the provision of services to Physically Disabled adults or for Learning Disability clients.

1.2

Pier House, Lee-on-Solent

Pier house is a three-storey Elderly Persons Home formed from the conversion of a former hotel, with single storey additions to the rear. The site is small, with little on site parking. It is situated immediately on Lee-on-Solent seafront.

1.2.1

Pier House originally catered for 40 residents, this was reduced to 31 and following HSE and Health and Safety concerns the numbers were reduced in 1999 to 15.This was due to poor fire integrity of the building, and advice was given not to use the third floor.

1.2.3

During recent years the home has been used as a county-wide respite care resource and has provided a facility for early discharge of patients in hospital wishing to eventually return home. Despite extensive promotion of the services, occupancy was only 50% during 2004/05.

1.2.4

It has become increasingly difficult to accommodate current and future service users either due to their increasing frailty and reduced mobility or that the building is unsuitable to meet the needs of dementia care residents.

1.2.5

The property is significantly exposed to weather elements due to its seafront position overlooking the Solent. Maintenance and repair of the property is extremely high and given the low occupancy and staffing costs, the unit costs are by far the highest in the county and are not considered to be an efficient use of resources.

1.3

Re-provision of service

1.3.1

In line with the Adult Social Care Green Paper, there are opportunities, to consider other options for re-provision of locally accessible respite services.

1.3.2

These include re-provision both within the Independent sector and Hampshire County Council Residential Homes. We may also want to explore how direct payments may be utilised by service users to broaden the range of services they wish to purchase to access personalised respite care.

1.3.3

1.3.4

All these approaches will allow us to meet the needs of a wider group of service users such as those who are physically frail or have dementia care needs.

Given that there are no permanent residents in the home reprovision for those users with regular programmed care could be achieved within a short timeframe if a decision to provide the services using another model is made.

1.4

Staff

1.4.1

There are currently 23 permanent staff employed by Hampshire County Council working at Pier house.

1.4.2

It is not envisaged that any of these will be put `at risk' due to the service changes outlined in this paper.

1.4.3

The options for their future employment are that they will be offered redeployment either at Addenbrooke which is 3 miles from Pier house or Hawthorne Court which is further to travel but does offer staff the opportunity to work within a nursing care environment. There will also be the opportunity for staff to explore wider redeployment options within Hampshire County Council.

1.5

1.5.1

1.5.2

Consultation Process

The reprovision of this service will be subject to a 12 week consultation period. This is compliant with the Hampshire Compact and will include:-

The regular respite service users of Pier House to ensure that individual needs assessment of those service users is taken into consideration in making the decision. Also relevant staff and care managers, voluntary organisations including Age Concern, Hampshire and a local Carers group, which represents users with similar needs to those users of Pier House.

1.6

1.6.1

Consultation with Partners

Plans are in place to consult with Fareham and Gosport PCT on the proposals to re-provide the respite services from Pier House.

1.7

1.7.1

Consultation with Staff

Staff briefing sessions and consultation with Trade Unions have taken place in September informing them of the proposals that are being put forward in this paper and the plans that are in place to offer re-deployment within Hampshire County Council.

1.7.2

Once the consultation has concluded and the results evaluated, the outcome will be presented to the PRC for comments/recommendations and then the Executive Member asking for the relevant decision.

1.8

Re-provision options - Assessment and Planning for Service Users

1.8.1

Work has already begun to identify alternative options for service users who have programmed care booking from November 2005. This consultation has been undertaken with colleagues from care management who will be working with the service users and relatives to ensure that their needs are met.

1.9

1.9.1

Financial impact

The gross revenue budget for Pier House is £501,573, net £403,269. On average for 15 residents this is a budgeted level of £33,438 gross and £26,884 net.

1.9.2

Due to the low occupancy of the service, the difference between the budgeted level and the actual expenditure is currently being used to manage other financial pressures within the service. This needs to be considered in any decision regarding the future revenue costs of the re provided service as it needs to remain within the current level of expenditure; as we will be expected to make efficiency savings of £100,000 to contribute to the management of departmental pressures. This will be achieved through the efficient reprovision of the current activity provided in Pier House.

2.

Impact Assessment

2.1

In compiling this report and developing the strategy, regard has been given to the County Councils' duties in relation to the Race Relation Amendment Act 2000 and Hampshire County Council's own race equality scheme. No adverse impact has been identified.

3

Consultation with Local Members

3.1

Briefing meetings have taken place with Local Members and any views expressed by them will be included in the Report which follows consultation.

Recommendation(s)

That:

1

The Executive Member support the proposal to consult on reprovision of respite services from Pier House and that the process of consultation is completed by the end of November 2005 with the outcome presented for decision in December following a consideration of issue by the PRC.