Cheshire West and Chester Council outlines a new model for adult short term and respite care

Cheshire West and Chester Council is seeking approval from Cabinet on an improved model for short term respite care services on Wednesday, 9 June.

In January the Council ran a targeted consultation exploring the potential move away from traditional building-based adult short term respite care towards an improved model that offers a wider range of services promoting greater choice and flexibility for service users to enable them to receive support closer to home or within their local community.

Respite is an important service for carers as it gives them a much-needed break and helps the people that they care for.

The Council currently delivers some of its respite services from council owned residential care homes at: Sutton Beeches, Leftwich Green (temporarily closed in Sept 2018) and Curzon House.

A report to Council’s Cabinet will set out the new model for short term respite care services based on feedback received during the consultation.

The new model proposes the closure of Sutton Beeches, Leftwich Green and Curzon House to enable reinvestment into a wider range of flexible options for service users and carers.

Under the improved model service users and carers would be able to choose from a range of options including:

• The offer of a direct payment for service users to receive a funding to arrange their own support to be delivered in their own homes or in a residential home of their choice either in the local community or near to a family member.
• Access to block booked short term/ respite care beds in independent sector care homes, and
• The option of having care delivered in someone else’s home. This is known as Shared Lives, which focusses on providing a flexible, person centred service and encourages people to remain independent.

Councillor Val Armstrong, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “We have to recognise that our service users are increasingly looking for a different model of care: one which is delivered closer to home, promoting choice and flexibility, and which meets their individual needs.

“By releasing funding tied up in existing building-based services at Sutton Beeches, Leftwich green and Curzon House we can provide a much wider range of options and choice for service users and carers without any reduction in the level of services people can access.

“The improved model will ensure the long-term sustainability of short term / respite care services and wider Adult Social Care services, whilst providing a greater choice, and a more flexible person-centred service that brings support  closer to home for people in our borough.”

The Council will bring forward proposals for alternative uses for the three sites, including opportunities for housing and support for local people.

The findings and recommendations will go to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet for a decision on 9 June 2021.

Pictured - Councillor Val Armstrong.