Thursday 22 September 2016

Residential Care Homes to transfer over to a Local Authority Trading Company

You will be aware of the council’s recent announcement with regards to the residential care homes.

Please see below press release.  The decision is at this stage is only to investigate the proposal further, and a final decision in December.

People living in a care home will not see any changes in their service, or their carer. Bupa will continue to run the service as normal.

Management and operation of council-owned Residential Care Homes

Powys County Council’s Cabinet has agreed in principle the development of a Local Authority Trading Company to run the 12 council-owned residential care homes from May of next year.

Council-owned residential care homes have been run by Bupa Care Ltd for the past 15 years across Powys. The contract with Bupa is due to expire in May 2017 following a one year extension.

The decision to develop a Local Authority Trading Company has the potential to stabilise the current market and position itself as a driving force in the development of residential care services across Powys.

Councillor Stephen Hayes, Cabinet Member for Adult Services said; “The decision to commission Bupa to deliver our residential care on our behalf was the right choice at the time, and they have successfully delivered a high level of care over this period of time.

“However the financial and demographic pressures alongside national and local policy drivers mean that the council’s current provision of residential and nursing care would not be sustainable in the future. The current model would not deliver the required levels of service within available resources.

“This option has considerable potential and is in line with the council’s commissioning approach and the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014.

“Retaining the current workforce is a high priority as the skills and experience of the highly trained staff will give a continuity of care and support for our residents in Powys.

“I know that the potential change to the management of the homes will be a source of anxiety to residents, staff, families and carers in the community, and alongside Bupa we are doing our upmost to ensure that everyone is informed and updated in a timely and sensitive manner.”    Ends.

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