Shaping Care for the 21st Century

Shaping Care for the 21^st Century is a review looking at the future provision of care for older people in the county, including the role of the county council’s eight care homes. It has involved extensive consultation with people using the care homes, their families, staff, and partner agencies e.g. those working in healthcare.

What people said they wanted to see in the future led to the five commissioning principles. These principles underpin decision-making and state that future services:

• should ensure current levels of high quality care are maintained and that every opportunity is taken to improve people’s experiences and outcomes
• are responsive and help meet need arising from an ageing population
• are modernised and fit for the 21st Century
• achieve value for money
• are accessible and support local communities

A decision was taken at the Executive Council meeting on 5 January 2011 – see Shaping Care Executive Report 5 Jan 2011 in the Downloads section – in principle, to close all eight care homes, taking a phased approach. The proposal is that Five Homes will close by the end of September 2011:

• The Cedars, Gainsborough
• Park View, Lincoln
• Ingelow Manor, Boston
• Halmer Grange, Spalding
• Crowtree House, Louth

Further analysis and market stimulation work is needed for the remaining Three Homes that are staying open at this time:

• Linelands, Nettleham
• Bonner House, Sleaford,
• Harrison House, Grantham.

What is the latest update?

A further report was presented at the Executive Council meeting on 5 July – see Shaping Care Executive Report 5 July 2011 in the Downloads section, or follow this link to access all the documents including the Appendices – proposing a revised approach about how the closures might take place, avoiding lengthy block contracts with providers where possible.

Such contracts go against moves towards the national ‘personalisation’ agenda – giving people more choice and control over their care via a personal budget if they are eligible – because competition is stifled from smaller providers and the authority risks paying for care people do not want.

It was agreed at this meeting that the Five Homes will close at the end of September 2011 as alternative services are already available for day, respite and intermediate care. It was also agreed that the Three Homes will remain open until alternative services are put in place. This won't happen before April 2012 and is likely to take longer.

We will keep people affected by a care home closure informed over coming months – care home users, their families, staff and the local community. No one will be left without support and we will be helping people to find alternative care that meets their needs. People will see a greater choice available in the independent sector and have more control over how they receive their care.

This is about making sure that future care for older people meets their needs, is modern and fit for purpose. People told us they wanted to see high quality care that is responsive, modernised, accessible and providing value for money. We are confident that this is the right approach to future service provision and that the quality of care people receive won’t change.

Why was the review needed?

Three major changes have affected the county's Adult Social Care services in the last few years - the policy context in which services in Lincolnshire are delivered, our growing population of older people, and residents' expressed wishes on what kind of modernised services should be available, now and in the future.

Continuing to provide social care services in the same way will not deliver the services the people want to see i.e. greater choice and control over their care. It is also not financially sustainable, with pressures on local authority funding continuing to increase.