Council reveals plan to ‘reshape’ care and close local nursing home

A public consultation is being recommended for proposals to “reshape” care for those looked after in three homes across Bath and North East Somerset.

A detailed report before Councillor Alison Born, the cabinet member for Adult Services, recommends approval for a six-week consultation with residents, families, staff and the wider community on the proposals.

The local authority is looking at changing the care it offers due to rising costs and a potential overspend of around £1 million.

If approved by Cllr Born, the council would consult on plans which could see Cleeve Court Residential Home in Bath becoming a centre of excellence for dementia care including nursing care.

The plans would also enable younger people with complex needs to live closer to home with an enhanced offer for them at Combe Lea, in Midsomer Norton.

Eleven places at the Charlton House Nursing Home in Keynsham could be moved to Cleeve Court or elsewhere.

All three of the council-run homes are currently rated as “Requires Improvement” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Charlton House Nursing Home currently has 11 out of 30 beds occupied but could offer alternative care provision, or housing options to meet the needs of the local community such as a ‘step-down’ ward over winter, something which has previously been offered at St Martin’s Hospital.

Proposals also include the opportunity for community groups and charitable organisations to have the use of day centre spaces at the community resource centres at a reduced rental rate if the organisations offer services that are accessible to the care home residents and the community.

Extra Care schemes and sheltered housing provision currently provided at Community Resource Centre sites in partnership with housing providers will not be affected by the proposals.

Councillor Alison Born, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “The proposals which I am being asked to approve to go out for consultation follow a review of the three homes where we provide registered care for up to 105 people.

“I am acutely aware that these are people’s homes and so residents, their families and staff must have their say on any plans we make.

“Running alongside any decision is also the fact that providing care is very costly and like every council there are huge pressures on our budgets. I shall give careful consideration to the report and the next steps for our Community Resource Centres in the best interest of the people we care for now and into the future.”

All three Community Resource Centres (CRCs) came back under the control of the council three years ago.

Overall, the CRC provision includes Charlton House which is registered to provide 30 nursing care beds over two separate floors, Combe Lea which provides 30 registered care beds and Cleeve Court which provides 45 registered care beds.

B&NES Council says all three sites have received significant investment, including increased pay for staff and training and equipment to support care.

However, rising costs including agency cost pressures could see the service face a potential £1 million overspend in the next financial year.

Following a CQC inspection last October, a number of concerns were identified at Charlton House and to help address them, 15 nursing care beds were temporarily withdrawn.

Progress has been made since this time and the CQC has currently rated the service as ‘requires improvement’.

The report before Councillor Born says there is “ample alternative provision” of general nursing care home services for adults in the district, but there are shortfalls in complex needs services.

It also says that the Charlton House building, which is relatively new and of high quality, is suitable for several accommodation uses.