Residents are reminded about the two upcoming public sessions as part of the consultation into residential care proposals for Ferndale and Hawthorn. These ‘drop-in’ sessions will enable the public to ask officers questions about the proposals and receive help to fill in the consultation survey.
The consultation into the proposed decommissioning of Ferndale House and Cae Glas residential care homes is ongoing, and will continue until Saturday, November 30. Led by independent consultants Practice Solutions Ltd, the process is engaging directly with residents, their families and care home staff.
There is also an important element to the consultation where the general public can find out more and have their say. Full details about the activities within the process are included in the Council’s previous news item – while key information, Frequently Asked Questions, ‘Easy Read’ materials and an online survey can be accessed on the Council’s consultation homepage.
The Council has also arranged and advertised two public ‘drop-in’ sessions, where officers will be on hand to answer questions, explain the proposals, and help people access and fill in the consultation survey. The public can visit at any time over a three-hour period at each session, which will take place at:
All feedback that is received during these two face-to-face sessions will be collected and considered as part of the wider consultation response, to inform Cabinet Members’ final decision on these proposals at a future date.
Councillor Gareth Caple, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in the consultation so far, as the Council continues to be in ‘listening mode’ over this eight-week period, to record people’s views on the proposals. It is important to re-iterate that no final decision has yet been made on either proposal – and the more feedback we receive through the formal consultation, the greater the future decision of Cabinet will be informed.
“Officers continue to engage internally with residents, their families and advocates, and staff members – and now we’re entering the period where two external sessions will be held. These will be at Rhondda Fach Leisure Centre and Hawthorn Leisure Centre, on November 13 and 18, respectively. The public is invited to ‘drop-in’, and officers will be able to answer questions, provide information, and help people access the consultation survey.
“We know that proposing service changes like these is a very difficult and sensitive process, and those directly affected – as well as members of the public – will continue to have questions about what the proposed changes would mean in practice. I’d urge everyone to continue to engage with the formal consultation to find out more, ask any questions, and have their views recorded – whether that’s on the Council website or at a face-to-face session.”
The proposals being consulted upon
In September, Cabinet agreed with officer recommendations to consult on proposals, intended to respond to a change in demand for residential care. 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. In addition, 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 Ferndale House proposal is to permanently decommission the existing 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 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 planned for the Rhondda Fach, with a focus on meeting changing needs via a modern and purpose-built dementia care home facility. 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 to the new 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 residential care home in Hawthorn. The home has not reached full capacity for some time and is not financially sustainable. It would close once suitable accommodation is found for its residents in a home of their choice, meeting all assessed needs.
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.
