Recommendation to consult on residential care contract

Neath Port Talbot Cabinet members will be asked to give their approval for officers to consult on changes to the Council’s residential care contract with Gwalia when they meet this week. The consultations would relate to proposals for Arwelfa and Trem-y-Glyn Residential Care Homes.

The Council’s Forward Financial Plan also outlines a need to make savings from the contract.

On 1st April 2012, the Council entered into the 25 year contract with Gwalia for the provision of its directly managed residential and respite care homes for older people.  The contract required Gwalia to close seven of the eight original homes and deliver four new, purpose built homes to provide residential care, respite and residential reablement. Two new care homes have already opened, Llys y Seren in Baglan and Plas Bryn Rhosyn in Neath.

A requirement to review the care provision in year five was built into the original contract, with similar reviews planned for the tenth, fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries. The contract entered its fifth year on 1st April 2016.

Under the proposals for consultation, a transition plan would be developed and suitable alternative placements secured for existing residents of Arwelfa. This would enable the home to be closed in 2017. The supported housing planned for the Afan Valley will still be delivered as part of any new arrangements and will feature specially designed units for older people, enabling them to live in a home of their own, in the community.

It is also proposed that the care home at Trem-y-Glyn in Glynneath would not be replaced. The home would instead be refreshed and the contract adjusted to enable Gwalia to operate services from Trem-y-Glyn for a further six years. Flood risk assessments carried out by Natural Resources Wales had already resulted in the original plans for the new site at Glynneath being aborted and no suitable alternative site has been identified to date.

If agreed, the consultation on proposals for both homes will begin on 5th August and run for six weeks. Residents and their families, staff at the homes, partner organisations and the wider communities of Glynneath and Croeserw will be encouraged to give their views. A report on the findings of the consultation will be presented to Councillors for consideration in September.

Nick Jarman, Director of Social Services, Health and Housing for Neath Port Talbot Council said:

“The trend of a reducing need for residential care beds is one that is expected to continue as an increasing number of older people receive tailored support to remain at home or exercise their legal right to choose direct payments instead of having services provided by the Council. Both of these options will facilitate even more opportunities for people to live safely, comfortably and well supported in their own homes instead of in a residential care setting.

“All of these factors, coupled with an unprecedented pressure on public sector budgets means that we cannot justify building two new homes. In April 2015 we opened dialogue with Gwalia on reviewing the existing contract and a proposed agreement has now been reached.

“If Cabinet agrees, a six week consultation for each proposal will begin on 5th August.”

– Ends –

Notes to Editors:

1.         Your contact for this press release is media@npt.gov.uk, tel 01639 763849

2.         Gwalia Care and Support is now part of Pobl Group

3.         Since the improving residential care contract commenced, more than £11 million has been invested in two new care homes in the county borough. Llys y Seren in Baglan opened in June 2013 and Plas Bryn Rhosyn in Caewern, Neath opened in November 2015

4.         Direct payments are payments given people who are eligible for care and support services and who would prefer to make their own arrangements rather than have services arranged by the Council. More information on direct payments can be found at www.npt.gov.uk/dp

5.         The Council and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) have developed joint Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) services to reduce hospital admissions and support more people to live independently in a home of their choice, within their community.