COUNCIL Leader Matt Dormer has moved to re-assure tenants at a council home for the elderly as it looks to put a care package – previously part funded by the authority – out to private tender.
Through a contract with Worcestershire County Council, the borough council currently delivers services for its tenants at St David’s House and Queens Cottages which are above its statutory duties.
These include domiciliary and personal care packages, activities and entertainment, 24/7 response, on-site staff overnight and access to a care provision and a full catering kitchen.
Previously this received £200,000 in backing from the Supporting People Fund but in 2014 this was replaced by the county council with a £58,000 grant which forced the borough to make up the deficit.
On September 7 the borough council’s executive committee will consider a paper asking members to resolve outsourcing the extra care scheme to an external provider.
In advance of this the paper will be scrutinised by the authority’s overview and scrutiny committee.
Councillor Craig Warhurst (Con, Astwood Bank and Feckenham), whose portfolio covers housing, said: “We are committed to continuing to provide this much needed extra care scheme and taking this decision will allow us to do so.
“We want our tenants to continue to live independently behind their own front doors and their health, safety and well-being are paramount.
“This, along with quality of service, will be considered when procuring the successful provider.”
The council would continue to be the landlord and says it would monitor the new contractors to ensure quality was maintained.
Staff however would be transferred to the specialist care provider.
Council Leader Matt Dormer said: “I want to re-assure our tenants that while price is obviously a contender when it comes to procurement, quality of service will be equally considered.
“We just cannot continue to fund this service from the public purse so this seems like the ideal solution for the council, its residents and most importantly, our tenants.”
