Issue - meetings
Shalder House
Meeting: 20/12/2011 - Cabinet (Item 8)
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Minutes:
Background:
This report provided details of the consultation process regarding the future of the service at Shalder House and the future of the site. Shalder House was currently used as a rehabilitation facility for people that had complex issues that primarily related to vulnerabilities in terms of complex social or housing needs rather than social care needs.
The report provided details of the consultation responses received before the publication of the Cabinet agenda on 12 December 2011. An addendum report was published on 19 December 2011 which provided details of the final consultation responses received by 15 December 2011 (the deadline for consultation responses). The addendum report also included the comments of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee which considered this issue on 15 December 2011.
A Diversity Impact Assessment was included in Appendix 1 to the addendum report. The Diversity Impact Assessment indicated that it was not necessary to proceed to a full impact assessment.
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Decision number: |
Decision: |
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The Cabinet noted the comments from the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out in section 3 of the addendum report. |
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174/2011 |
The Cabinet agreed that officers decommission the service operating at Shalder House from 4 January 2012 with a view to the property becoming vacant in February 2012. |
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175/2011 |
The Cabinet agreed to declare Shalder House (as edged black on the plan set out in Appendix 2 to the addendum report) surplus and delegated authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to dispose of the site for best consideration. |
Reasons:
Officers consider that the proposals are desirable because of the reasons set out in the advice and analysis section. Shalder House is a service that supports people that have complex and challenging social and housing needs. The building is not fit for purpose as a sheltered housing scheme and therefore the decommissioning of the service will enable innovative and more cost effective approaches to delivering tailored support to individuals.
During the service’s last inspection by the Care Quality Commission, the service was considered to provide very good care however the fabric of the building was criticised.
Whilst the care is good, it is not cost effective to employ 13 members of staff to support a maximum of 11 service users at any one time. During a period of 52 weeks, 38 people benefited from the service, which indicates that the service operates at an average capacity of about 51%.
The building cannot be made fit for purpose without a substantial investment of capital.
Currently, up to eleven service users can benefit from a site that could accommodate approximately 30 units of accommodation or be redeveloped for other purposes that could benefit the whole local community.
The proposed alternative approach to supporting people into appropriate accommodation and reintegrating into the community can be delivered in a more person centred way by using units within sheltered housing across Medway.
Consultation has confirmed ... view the full minutes text for item 8