Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Adult Social Care Item 2

9 December 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 options for reprovision of respite services from Pier House and that the process to end the current service is completed by Friday 16th December 2005.

2. That Pier House be declared surplus to requirement and the Executive Member for Policy and Resources be requested to allow 100% of the capital receipt resulting in its sale to be retained by Adult Services to fund fire safety requirements of other core stock residential homes.

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

This consultation 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.

2.3

Pier House is a three-storey Older 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.

2.4

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.

2.5

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

9 December 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 presents the outcome of the consultation that has been undertaken by Adults Services regarding the reprovision of respite services from Pier House which is one of Hampshire County Council Older Persons Homes.

1.1.2

1.1.3

This consultation 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

The basis of the consultation has been 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 of residents both physically and mentally, bedroom sizes are the most important factor. This enables care assistants 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. This has a significant impact on Unit Costs (see below under Section 1.6)

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.

1.2.6

Current estimated cost to bring the home up to the required standard would be in excess of £1million.

1.3

1.3.1

1.3.2

1.3.2.1

1.3.2.2

1.3.2.3

1.3.2.4

1.3.2.5

1.3.2.6

Consultation Process

The reprovision of this service has been subject to a consultation period which ends on the 30 November. The attached schedule sets out who has been consulted including the number of responses received.

The key issues that have been highlighted are:-

Positive location of the sea front building

Requests for further information on the level of investment that would be needed to bring the home up to standard

Additional costs that may be incurred by individual service users

Occupancy levels and how widely the service has been promoted

Positive comments on the quality of care that is delivered at Pier House

Alternative reprovision options through the use of personalised respite care.

1.4

Re-provision of service

1.4.1

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

1.4.2

These options include re-provision both within the Independent sector and Hampshire County Council Residential Homes.

1.4.3

1.4.4

1.4.5

In order to develop these options we have met with all programmed care service users to identify alternative options to meet their individual needs This consultation has been undertaken with colleagues from care management and the following reprovison options are proposed.

Provision of 7 dedicated dementia care respite care beds at Addenbrookes

Commissioning 6 additional respite beds from the Independent sector in the locality- 2 of these will be available immediately in December with 4 available from January 2006.These have been secured at a cost of £425-£450 per bed per week .

Alternative provision for programmed care users in other Hampshire county Council residential homes

All of these options can be delivered within existing revenue budgets and 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 the reprovision of the service could be achieved by December 2005.

1.5

Staff consultation and redeployment

1.5.1

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

1.5.2

Individual and group consultation have been undertaken with all staff at Pier House. This has also included consultation with the Trade Unions

1.5.3

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 is also the opportunity for staff to explore wider redeployment options within Hampshire County Council.

1.5.4

1.5.5

Of the 23 staff 15 have been offered redeployment within Hampshire County Council older Persons homes, 2 by HC3S. Through individual negotiation the remaining group of 6 staff have indicated that they wish to be considered for redundancy/ retirement.

The cost of this will be £45,000 to the department and can be accommodated within the revenue budgets for Residential and Nursing Care in 2005.

1.6

1.6.1

1.6.2

Financial impact of reprovision options

The options for reprovision will provide a wider range of service for less cost.

This delivers the anticipated efficiencies of reducing unit costs through the use of Hampshire County Council residential homes and additional capacity purchased from the Independent sector.

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

Local Members have been briefed by letter and offered individual meetings.

To date, four written responses have been received and no requests for individual meetings.

Recommendation(s)

That:

1

2

The Executive Member support the options for reprovision of respite services from Pier House and that the process to end the current service is completed by Friday 16th December 2005.

The Executive Member strongly urged by the Policy Review Committee declare Pier House surplus to service requirements and that any subsequent capital receipt is 100% retained by Adult Services to fund the Fire Safety requirements of other core stock residential homes.