The Council has started a consultation into proposals to decommission Ferndale House and Cae Glas residential care homes. The process will engage directly with residents, their families and care home staff, while also offering opportunities for the public to find out more and have their say.
In September, Cabinet agreed with officer recommendations to consult on proposals, intended to respond to a change in demand for residential care and a surplus of beds in the Council’s care homes. Expectations of older people are reported to be changing, with more residents wanting to retain their independence in their own home, or live in accommodation that provides targeted support for their needs within an apartment-style facility, such as extra care. In this context, demand for care home facilities has also changed, with more specialist nursing or dementia care needed for the future.
The proposals being consulted upon
The Ferndale House proposal is to permanently decommission the existing residential care home, recognising that it doesn’t meet modern standards required to provide continuing high level and quality care accommodation. This has led to low resident numbers over a prolonged period, and the care home becoming no longer financially sustainable. The home would close once suitable accommodation is found for its residents in a home of their choice that meets their assessed needs.
Running parallel to this is a new accommodation with care that is planned for the Rhondda Fach, with a focus on meeting the needs of the future population – therefore, providing modern and purpose-built dementia care home facilities. The groundwork for this new build has started on the old ‘Chubb’ Factory site in Ferndale. All current Ferndale House residents would have an opportunity to move back to the modern facility when it is ready to open, subject to their wishes and assessed needs at that point.
The Cae Glas proposal is to permanently decommission the existing residential care home that is located in Hawthorn, which has not reached full capacity for some time and is not financially sustainable. The home would close once suitable accommodation is found for its residents in a home of their choice which meets their assessed needs.
Key information about the consultation
The public consultation gets underway today, and will run for more than eight weeks in total – from Tuesday, October 1, to Saturday, November 30.
The process for the people directly affected by the decommissioning proposals will be led and reported by independent consultants Practice Solutions Ltd. They will ensure that dedicated, face-to-face sessions with residents, their families, and staff are sensitively facilitated at the care homes, to ensure people are supported to have their say.
The public can take part from October 1 via a dedicated page on the Council’s website. This page details the key information in the proposals and includes ‘Easy Read’ materials and a Frequently Asked Questions section, along with an online survey. Officers will also engage key stakeholders to inform them about the consultation and encourage participation.
Local ‘drop-in’ sessions are being arranged so the public can discuss the proposals with officers. There will be two sessions – one each held locally to the communities of Ferndale and Hawthorn. They are currently planned for mid-November 2024 – full details will be communicated once finalised.
Councillor Gareth Caple, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “These proposals are in response to the changing expectations that older people have for residential care – reflected in the over-supply of residential care home beds in Rhondda Cynon Taf. More than a third of the Council’s care home beds are currently vacant and, with the public sector facing large financial challenges, it cannot be left to stay that way or decline further. The recommended proposals for Ferndale House and Cae Glas would result in the decommissioning of two care homes that have surplus capacity.
“With increasing demand for independent living with support and complex care, the Council is committed to modernising its offer. Extra care housing at Maesyffynnon in Aberaman and Cwrt Yr Orsaf in Pontypridd are very popular having been opened in recent years, while a third scheme is being built in Porth. A further, multi-million pound investment agreed by Cabinet will provide more accommodation with care in Ferndale and Mountain Ash.
“The independent consultation now underway will thoroughly engage with residents, their families, and staff, at Ferndale House and Cae Glas care homes. Considering service changes like these is a very difficult and sensitive process, and I’m sure everyone affected will have lots of questions about what is proposed and what it means for the residents and staff. Over the next two months, officers will record and listen to the views and opinions put forward – providing advocacy support for those residents who need help to take part.
“Alongside this internal activity, the public are encouraged to have their say by accessing more information and a survey online. There will also be public ‘drop-in’ sessions held in Ferndale and Hawthorn, which are currently being arranged. Following the consultation, all feedback will be collated and reported to Cabinet Members, to inform their final decisions on the proposals.”
By reducing the current over-supply of the Council’s residential care home beds, the proposals could generate an estimated revenue saving of around £2m in a full year, while still meeting ongoing assessed needs and demand.
