Issue - meetings

Recommendations - The Executive are asked to note:

i)   The care market development work undertaken in Craven to support the Council’s strategic priorities in embedding a home first approach that enables people to remain independent and remain in their own homes for longer, reducing reliance on residential care. 

ii)  The intention to replace Neville House with new Extra Care Housing in Gargrave, subject to a successful procurement exercise, and the associated closure of Neville House in Autumn 2023.

iii)  The wider work to develop supported accommodation for people with a range of care and support needs, including younger adults, across Craven.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director – Health & Adult Services updating on ongoing work to support the development of the care market in Craven to ensure it could continue to meet the emerging needs of the locality and the strategic intentions to develop new accommodation-based services in Craven and seeking approval for the replacement of Neville House Elderly Person’s Home with new accommodation-based services.

Councillor Michael Harrison introduced the report and noted the proposals were for an expansion of the Authority’s extra care model and investment in the Gargrave area, and the associated closure of Neville House.

He acknowledged that Neville House was a much-loved facility, providing good care to its seven residents.  However he noted it was no longer fit for purpose in its current form.  He suggested the timing of the proposal was as good as it was going to get, and that the forward thinking and enthusiastic workforce would be redeployed.

He was pleased to note the Authority’s successful extra care programme was nationally recognised and that the proposal would provide an opportunity to procure smaller schemes to transform the programme in a way that would previously have been impossible.  He also noted that the deterioration of Neville House did not allow time for the provision of a new extra care facility in Gargrave ahead of its closure, and the risk of a forced closure continued to increase.

Councillors Carl Les and Derek Bastiman was both pleased to note that Neville House residents and the staff would be looked after, noting it would lead to improved living standards for those residents.

Councillor Gareth Dadd acknowledged a difficult decision taken at this time would lead to a better result in the medium term. He also noted that in the Thirsk area the introduction of the extra care model had proved very successful.

Councillor Michael Harrison reiterated his commitment to the residents, their families and staff of Neville House, and confirmed residents would only be moved when it was right for them with no fixed closure date.

Having considered the report in full, the Executive voted in favours of the recommendations, and it was

Resolved – That the following be noted:

i)   The care market development work undertaken in Craven to support the Council’s strategic priorities in embedding a home first approach that enables people to remain independent and remain in their own homes for longer, reducing reliance on residential care. 

ii)  The intention to replace Neville House with new Extra Care Housing in Gargrave, subject to a successful procurement exercise, and the associated closure of Neville House in Autumn 2023.

iii)  The wider work to develop supported accommodation for people with a range of care and support needs, including younger adults, across Craven.