To approve the preferred option to invest in and develop the council’s own care facility in Herefordshire to meet future demand.

The cabinet member health and adult wellbeing introduced the item. She summarised the need for additional care capacity in the county and recommended that option 4 of the feasibility study be taken forward for further investigation.

The acting director for adults and communities summarised the report. He explained that the council met regularly with representatives of the market and that the published market position statement set out the intended direction of travel to a mixed economy with the council investing in its own provision. An 80 bed establishment was economic to run and could provide the type of care at the level required. Recent care home closures had reduced provision.

Cabinet members noted that:

·        The report also proposed undertaking a similar feasibility study into care home provision for children and was an example of strategic thinking across the adults and children’s directorates;

·        The council needed to meet its statutory responsibilities and prepare for the demands of an aging population;

·        It was important to choose the right size of facility and the right location;

·        The development would see the future homes standard put into practice;

·        A single 80 bed facility would replace the beds lost by recent closures and provide a modest increase, the council might need to bring forward further schemes in the future if this one was successful and demand increased.

Group leaders and representatives commented on the proposals. Option 4 was generally supported, with option 3 a possibility if a suitable property came to the market. It was highlighted that:

·        It was important that the facility was managed in a cost effective way, the acting director explained that the council would build on the lessons learned from operating Hillside, which was running successfully and with operating costs comparable with other providers;

·        Care needed to be taken not to distort the local market;

·        The council needed to be clear what type of provision the proposed facility would provide;

·        The council also needed to look at other measures to support people remaining in their own homes, such as tackling fuel poverty.

It was resolved that:

a)                Having considered the options appraisal for further development of additional care home facilities in Herefordshire Cabinet approves option 4.

b)                Authority is delegated to the Interim Director for Adults and Communities to take all appropriate steps to develop the preferred option in detail, for further consideration of cabinet.

c)                A similar options appraisal for new care home or other accommodation for children is prepared for cabinet’s consideration.