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ITEM EX10 - ANNEX 1

EXECUTIVE - 11 DECEMBER 2001

TRANSFER OF THE COUNCILS HOMES FOR OLDER PEOPLE

ANNEX 1

Summary of Key Events and Decisions for the Transfer of Homes for Older People

This Annex summarises the key decisions made by the Council and lists, in brackets, other key events.

June 1998

Social Services Committee decided to transfer the Council’s Homes for Older People to the independent sector. It also established a Sub-Committee to make operational decisions relating to the implementation of this decision.

September 1998

  • It was decided that the transfer of residential provision for older people should be by one contract to a single organisation.

  • All places within the County should normally be within a 6-mile radius from a former local authority home or a replacement home (accepting existing gaps).

  • Sites for new homes would be considered appropriate only if they were at least well served by public transport as the home that it replaced.

  • Sites for new homes would be considered appropriate only if they were at least as close to shops and amenities as the home that it replaced

  • Where there was no independent alternative within a location then a significant presence must continue.

November 1998

The following criteria be followed by officers in preparing contract documentation on the basis that the financial data relating to property issues demonstrates that these are viable.

  • Existing care standards shall be maintained and improved, including where these are currently above Registration Standards and including training to be achieved.

  • All property in transferred homes shall be provided at the current registration standards or above the current registration standards provided that approval in principle is given to the following three paragraphs.

  • At the end of the programme provision shall be in single rooms, with some provision for people wishing to share.

  • Room sizes in all new homes shall be above basic Registration Standards at 12 sq. m.

  • Rooms in new builds shall have an en-suite w.c. with a wash hand basin (with an additional 3 sq. m. for this purpose).

  • Consideration shall be given for all en-suite facilities to be provided with a shower within the same floor area.

  • No refurbishment of existing buildings shall result in less than 40 registerable places (as now).

  • The size of new buildings will be around 60 places unless the locality requirements indicate an alternative size.

  • Any new build homes shall have a minimum life of 30 years.

  • New provision will move towards accurately reflecting demographic needs and complementing existing provision in the County.

  • The building programme will seek to minimise the impact on residents’ quality of life.

  • Maximum cost efficiency will be achieved in relation to double running and decant costs.

  • Provision shall have regard to maximising revenue efficiency.

  • The Partner Organisation shall deliver the agreed property programme within an agreed timescale and keep local County Councillors informed of developments in their area.

January 1999

  • Approval given to the development of the purchasing strategy

  • A Consultation and communications strategy was adopted

 

March 1999

  • Noted that 40% of the places to be provided would be for nursing care

May 1999

  • Agreement that the adoption of the strategy for consultation to run in parallel with the tendering process.

  • Agreement that consultation is undertaken with key stakeholders prior to agreeing any subsequent upgrading programmes for existing County Council homes or their replacements.

July 1999

  • Approval of the strategic aims and principles of the purchasing strategy, particularly the fact that the new contract will not necessarily replace homes on a ‘like for like’ basis.

  • Agreement to the indicative purchasing shifts towards higher dependency care.

  • Agreement to the establishment of purchasing groups as a mechanism for implementing the purchasing strategy at a local level.

During discussions with officers in exempt sessions, decisions were taken to give effect to the following criteria for defining a successful organisation that could meet the Council’s service objectives.

  • Able and willing to obtain major multi-million pound capital funding.

  • Ability to manage the consequential capital property programme whilst at the same time providing high quality care for exiting and new residents.

  • Track record in delivery of high quality care for older people.

  • Capable of registration under the Registered Homes Act and contracting with a local authority for the provision of care.

  • Ability to develop services to meet the needs of older people in Oxfordshire over the next 25 years.

The following objectives should be met as a result of such a transfer:

  • The quality of service provided should be maintained and improved.

  • Residents should be provided with a "Home for Life" through the possibility of dual nursing and residential registration.

  • The County Council should have confidence in the arrangements, which should be robust, simple and transparent.

  • Any risks associated with the model of transfer should be identified and taken into account. It is inevitable that any strategy will have elements of risk but these should be reasonable and commensurate with the benefits that the solution will achieve.

  • The arrangements should be affordable for both the County Council and residents.

  • The arrangements should represent good value for money.

  • The model of transfer should enable flexibility in the Council’s fulfilment of its Statutory Duties.

  • The selected model of transfer should resolve the current problems without giving rise to similar problems in the foreseeable future.

  • Any organisation must operate in a cost-effective manner and provide long term security for residents.

  • Any organisation must operate within a best value framework

  • To agree that the contract should restrict the design of future buildings to no more than 2 storeys of residential accommodation in normal circumstances, subject to the advice of the Chief Fire Officer on provision for the evacuation of residents in an emergency.

September 1999

  • In light of the discussions at the Member/Officer seminars over the summer period, agree Option 1 i.e. staggered transfer of homes to an independent organisation with a full transfer of staff on day one should be explored as the preferred method of transfer.

 

May 2000

  • Agree the Outline Business Case and the outline timetable for the project.

(Invitations to negotiate sent to Craegmoor, Servite Houses, Ealing Family Housing Association/Freemantle Care Trust and The Orders of St. John/Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association.

September 2000

(ITN Submissions received from Servite Houses, Ealing Family Housing. Freemantle Care Trust and the Orders of St. John/Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association)

October 2000

  • Agree to invite Servite Houses and The Orders of St. John/Bedfordshire Pilgrims to submit a Best and Final Offer

November 2000

  • Agree to consult on an Initial Development Programme for Ladygrove, Didcot, Blue Mountains, Wallingford and Orchard Lodge, Banbury

January 2001

  • Agree to publication of Best and Final Offer. Review of possible impact on Council’s policy and budget plans.

26January 2001

(BAFO published)

14 February 2001

(Servite Houses withdraw)

March 2001

  • Agree to continue with single bidder approach in the light of the withdrawal by Servite Housing.

April 2001

  • Agree to revised evaluation timetable

  • Agree to the BAFO consultation framework

October 2001

  • Approved transfer of the existing Homes for Older People sites for new Homes on a wholly leasehold basis

  • Authorised the Chief Executive, Director of Environmental Services and Director of Social Services to negotiate detailed lease terms (including market rents) which properly protect the County Council’s overall interests.

  • Outcome of consultations with staff on TUPE transfer reported and noted by Committee.

15 October 2001

  • Statement of Intent. All parties agreed that they will use all reasonable endeavours to resolve all outstanding issues relating to the Project with the intention of entering into the Project Agreement in December 2001.

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