Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/069

Contact: Gillian Douglas, Assistant Director Housing & Social Care Commissioning Tel: 07503 259834

Report by Corporate Director – Adults & Housing (CA16).

Through the Care Act 2014, the Council has a responsibility to meet the care and support needs of adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.  To achieve positive outcomes the council generally supports these service users to live independently with their care needs met in their own home. 

Through the provision of supported living accommodation, the council enables people to live in their own home with care support provided on site.  Based on current and anticipated supply, there is a need to access an additional planned pipeline of supported living accommodation in Oxfordshire over the next 2-3 years and to increase the overall supply of suitable properties.  The report outlines a proposal to invest £5m capital funding in the Resonance Supported Homes Fund in order to deliver up to 25 units of supported living accommodation for people with learning disabilities and autism.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve an investment of £5.0m by the County Council in the Resonance Supported Homes Fund for the delivery of supported living accommodation units for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet had before it a report outlining a proposal to invest £5m capital funding in the Resonance Supported Homes Fund in order to deliver up to 25 units of supported living accommodation for people with learning disabilities and autism. 

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, introduced the report.  She thanked officers Gillian Douglas, Kathy Wilcox, Karen Buckingham, Robyn Noonan and Stephen Chandler as well as Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Calum Miller.

Councillor Hannaby emphasised that Resonance was an experienced social impact investment and property fund manager with a track record of delivering accommodation for vulnerable groups on behalf of local authorities.  The proposed investment of £5m would provide 20 to 25 units.  It was to cover an initial period of 8 years with a possible further 8 years.  This scheme will be monitored to ensure that it is delivered as planned.

Councillor Hannaby added that she wanted to ensure that all of the units provided would be used to accommodate Oxfordshire residents.

Councillor Pete Sudbury welcomed the proposal.  Having worked in Mental Health he had seen the disabling effects of institutions, however well run.  The ability to live in a normal house on a normal street was very important.

Councillor Liz Brighouse noted that this was being delivered using a social capital fund and she hoped this type of vehicle could be user more often.  Councillor Hannaby responded that they were looking at other ways of providing as many units again because they were needed.

Councillor Calum Miller outlined the financial aspects of the proposal which should provide a return of around 6% per annum.  The main risk was related to the 8-year cycle which could mean that the property market might not be in the best place when we wanted to withdraw.  He judged that risk to be low and there was an appetite for Oxfordshire to initiate more innovative projects like this one.

Councillor Mark Lygo stated that the project was much needed.  He asked if in future projects the residents could be involved in the design stages.  Councillor Hannaby welcomed that suggestion.

RESOLVED: to approve an investment of £5.0m by the County Council in the Resonance Supported Homes Fund for the delivery of supported living accommodation units for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.