Council offloads respite centre with move branded 'positive'
The plans will see the city council continue to run Kentish Road and an external provider will be contracted to operate Weston Court.
Changes to the existing arrangements involve increasing the size of Kentish Road from four core beds and one emergency bed to six core beds and one emergency bed.
The news has been welcomed by relatives of those using the services, with Pat Larmond telling the Echo: "Stability is most important."
The mixed economy model will mean the majority of respite is provided at the two sites, with the local authority reducing its use of Rose Road, which is run by a charity.
The council said it would continue to commission services for adults with more complex needs where they could not be supported at Kentish Road or Weston Court.
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Cllr Marie Finn, cabinet member for adults and health, told cabinet on Tuesday, April 29, that the adult respite care service was 'crucial' in giving carers the break they needed to be able to continue with their caring role.
The contract for Weston Court with current provider Way Ahead Leisure Pursuits and the existing commissioned services from Rose Road Association are due to expire at the end of September.
Cllr Finn said the council needs to make financial savings alongside ensuring it can meet the future demand for respite.
She said a second consultation on the proposals showed people did not want the services to change.
'We have arrived at a compromise proposal that will not please everyone but has shown we have at least tried to listen to carers,' Cllr Finn said.
Pat Larmond, the mother of a service user at Weston Court said "everyone was pushing" for the site to be kept under the same agency.
She said: "I know the contract is coming to an end but the news should mean that Weston Court won't be under control of the council and that the current agency will have the chance of being involved in the tendering process.
"The last few months have been really uncertain but I hope the tendering process is fair.
"I think everyone is really happy with the current agency.
"Stability for service users at Weston Court is most welcome."
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Individual assessments will be carried out before any transfer decisions are made.
The new model for the service will deliver cost savings of £238,000 a year.
This is around £70,000 less than if the council had pressed ahead with plans to run the two sites itself, which was the recommended option earlier in the year.
Cllr Finn added: 'This will still make savings but not as much as having the service with one provider but it meets carers' preferences as Kentish Road carers mostly want to stay with the council and Weston Court carers want to stay with the private sector.'
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