Issue - meetings

Purpose of the report:

To update the Adults and Health Select Committee on progress made by the Accommodation with Care and Support programme with particular focus on the following:

·       identifying a provider to deliver phase 1 of Strategic Extra Care (Design, Build, Finance and Operate five new Extra Care facilities across Surrey); and

·       identifying a provider to Design, Build, Finance and Operate a residential, dementia & nursing facility in North West Surrey.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

Cliff Bush, Chair, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adults

Jennifer Henderson, Senior Commissioning Manager, Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council

Matt Lamburn, Project Manager, Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council

Matt Parris, Deputy CEO, Healthwatch Surrey

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.     An introduction to the report was provided by officers who informed the Committee that demographic changes had put pressure on Surrey County Council’s (SCC) capacity to find affordable residential accommodation for those with social care needs. Projections had shown that over the next ten years SCC would be required to expand its residential accommodation by a further 10% in response to increased demand arising from a growing elderly population. The Committee heard that the Council needed to ensure that it had enough affordable accommodation to place those with care needs. SCC had initiated a number of projects to increase its provision of accommodation for those with social care needs one of which was to stimulate growth in the Extra Care market.

2.     Members were advised that SCC’s strategy to expand the availability of Extra Care places was predicated on a Design, Build, Finance and Operate model (DBFO) whereby land would be offered to the private sector to build and operate Extra Care housing on the proviso that a certain number of units would be reserved to place those who received social care support from SCC. Five locations across the County had been identified to build Extra Care housing which would be offered to the market in accordance with the terms outlined in the report. The Cabinet Member for Adults highlighted that the report to the Select Committee referred specifically to the provision of Extra Care for older people but indicated that SCC had also purchased land in the south of the County to build Extra Care Units for use by those with learning disabilities.

3.     More clarity was sought on the procurement process and Members asked whether SCC would seek just one provider to build and operate Extra Care facilities on the five sites referenced in the report or whether there would be a different provider for each of the five sites. Officers stated that the Council would run a bespoke, flexible procurement process which meant a variety of different configurations was possible as regards the number of contracts that SCC entered into.

4.     The Committee highlighted the important role that local communities play in supporting elderly residents in ensuring that they didn’t become isolated. Members stated that moving older people with social care needs into Extra Care accommodation outside of their local communities could sever existing support networks. Officers stated that the existing strategy concentrated on priority areas with an identified need for more residential care but the ultimate goal was to have Extra Care units in conurbations across the County to ensure that this type of support could be delivered to older people within their existing community.

5.     Detail was sought on how Extra Care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17