Cabinet has made its final decisions on two residential care proposals that were recently consulted upon. On Wednesday, January 22, Members amended the proposal for Ferndale House Care Home, instead agreeing to keep it open until new care accommodation for Rhondda Fach is built, while the proposal to close Cae Glas Care Home will proceed.
The proposals, outlined in more detail here, were brought forward to respond to new demands for residential care. Older people’s expectations are changing, with more residents wanting to retain independence in their own home, or live in accommodation providing targeted support for their needs in an apartment-style facility, like Extra Care, rather than traditional care homes.
A report to Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting summarised the consultation feedback that was received.
Having considered the consultation feedback and the content of the report, Cabinet Members have determined not to proceed with the decommissioning of Ferndale House Care Home. This accommodation will now remain open until the new care home development at the former ‘Chubb’ Factory site in Ferndale becomes operational.
Members also determined that the proposal for Cae Glas Care Home in Hawthorn will proceed as initially consulted upon. They determined to proceed with this proposal in response to the home’s surplus capacity. As a result, officers will begin the process to permanently decommission the care home – while ensuring that residents are provided with continued care and remain fully-supported and informed throughout.
Councillor Gareth Caple, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “We fully understand that bringing forward service changes like these is extremely emotive.
“In reaching its decision today, Cabinet considered a range of important matters, including the need to respond to the changing demands for residential care – with many residents now choosing to live independently for longer, and that trend likely to continue into the future. The Council also needs to plan and respond to the more complex needs of residents when they require support and residential care.
“The better-than-anticipated Local Government settlement has provided some financial flexibility for us to take note of the strong concerns expressed. This relates to the impact of moving residents for a short period of time, which could be avoided by delaying the closure of Ferndale House until the new facility is operational on the Chubb Factory site. This decision will also enable staff to directly transfer to the newly-built setting.
“Unfortunately, due to the need to reduce the surplus capacity which exists across the Council’s accommodation services, and the need to respond to changing demands for care, it was determined to proceed with the decommissioning of Cae Glas Care Home. It was noted that this home requires a significant subsidy and the availability of care within the independent sector is more accessible in Taff Ely than other parts of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“All residents will continue to receive care and support throughout the next steps of the process, and officers will work very closely with residents and their families to keep them informed, and to find suitable alternative accommodations that meet all assessed needs. Only after this is achieved for every one of the Cae Glas residents will this decision be taken forward.”
The Council’s Overview and Scrutiny call-in arrangements, for the call-in of a Cabinet decision, apply until 5pm on January 27.
