County Council Cabinet Update

Following today's decision at Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet meeting relating to in-house residential and day care services for older and disabled people, members want to offer the people of Staffordshire a real opportunity to access improved services.

Following a wide and further consultation process with service users, staff and those affected, following May's Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet today approved a revised schedule of changes to specific care homes and day centres (see Notes below). These were revised recommendations taking into account of the views and suggestions made during the consultation period.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, the Portfolio Holder for Social Care and Health, Cllr. Susan Woodward, said:

"Today's decision offers the people of Staffordshire a unique opportunity to plan today for tomorrow's needs. I fully understand that some aspects of the programme gave rise to strong feelings and this is why the Council undertook an additional range of consultation exercises to fully explain our wider aims and listen to people's concerns and take alternative action where appropriate.

"Older and disabled people who currently receive care and support services will continue to do so. There is absolutely no question about that. In the future this will be based on their individual needs and services will be reprovided, developed and put in place to ensure this continues in their very best interests. The Council will work closely with them, their families and carers to ensure this happens for each individual case.

"However, we really are faced with some stark realities that we must address today. In less than four years, the number of people aged 60 and over will increase by 14%, and by 2021 that figure will rise to 37%. Those aged 85 and over will go up by 24% in just four years time and by 78% by 2021. This is a reality that we must deal with to ensure the aging population of Staffordshire are able to access care and support services when needed.

"The Council has to become innovative in the way it operates to plan for future provision of care and support and this is why we are developing our policy to deal with demographical changes."

The objective of our policy Changing Lives is to meet the needs of the citizens of today and tomorrow; to deliver improvements on how older and disabled people access support and services which enables them to remain independent as possible and live their lives the way they choose. The policy also afford individuals an opportunity to have far greater control of how they operate on a day to day basis with support and services delivered to them in a tailor-made fashion in their own homes. The programme aims to go beyond bricks and mortar and provide service delivery based on the individual's specific and best interests.

Notes :

Currently in Staffordshire, some 90% of residential and nursing home care is already provided by the independent sector. The Commission of Social Care Inspection applies the exact same quality standards to care provision, whether it is the public, private or voluntary sector.
Those affected with any service closure or reprovision will be assessed individually to deliver a range of services based on choice, locality and when the service commences.
Proposals passed by Cabinet on 19 July 2006 to be presented to the Staffordshire County Council meeting on 27 July 2006:

Residential Care Homes:

Roseneath, Stone: Further consultation is required before a recommendation is made to Cabinet; in context of Older Peoples Services in the Stone area.
Lea House, Newcastle: Further consultation is required before a recommendation is made to Cabinet; in context of Older Peoples Services in the Newcastle area
Great Wyrley, Cannock: Further consultation is required to include both the Community Support Unit and the Day Centre, before a recommendation can be made to Cabinet.
Thomas Hardy Court, Tamworth: Further consultation is required before a recommendation is made to Cabinet. This consultation will now cover Older Peoples and Disability Services in Tamworth.
Thistleberry, Newcastle: The closure and reprovision of services proceeds at an appropriate time, in partnership with residents and their families to ensure their needs are met.
Greenwood House, Burntwood, Lichfield: The closure and reprovision of services proceeds at an appropriate time, in partnership with residents and their families to ensure their needs are met.
The Laurels, Stafford: Recommended closure and reprovision of services to proceed as previously agreed by Cabinet.
Bend Oak, Burton: Recommended closure and reprovision of services to proceed as previously agreed by Cabinet.

Day Centres:

The Priory Day Centre, Newcastle: further consultation is required as part of the wider review of services in Newcastle.
Tamworth Day Centre: Further consultation is required as part of the wider review of services in Tamworth.
Cheadle Day Centre: Services will be reprovided at the existing Lightwood Unit.
Leek Day Centre: Services will be reprovided at the existing Kniveden Unit.
Elkes Day Centre, Uttoxeter: The reprovision and development of services will take place in partnership with Trent and Dove Housing Association.
Stone Day Centre: Services to be reprovided and developed along with other facilities planned in Stone.

Page Last Modified: 31/01/2007 09:26:01

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