Update: Following the Lead Member meeting on 26 January, we can confirm that it has been agreed to change the designation of Newington Court to ‘Housing with Care’, thereby de-registering the service as an Extra Care scheme, with effect from November 2021. Our proposals to fund some additional carer support and the on-site Lifeline for a year from November 2021 for all existing residents were also agreed. The papers for the meeting and the minutes are available to the public on our website.
We would like to acknowledge how hard this outcome will be for many residents and reassure them that nothing will change with the on-site support until November 2021. We will work closely with residents in the meantime to explore their options. The first step in this process will be a member of one of our social work teams getting in touch with them to talk about what the decision means for them.
Once again, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation. Decisions like this are never easy and it’s important we make them with a full understanding of how people will be affected. This supports us to make informed decisions and hopefully means any changes are managed in the best way possible.
Consultation results summary (published 18 January)
It’s clear from the responses that people are very concerned about the proposal and how it will affect them or their loved one. There is a lot of mistrust of the Council and people dispute whether we have promoted the scheme properly. Some people raise concerns that potential residents have been turned away from the scheme.
The on-site care team was a big reason for choosing the scheme for people. Respondents worry about the impact of the removal of that support, particularly at night, and how it will affect the health and wellbeing of residents, and the delivery of care services. People fear that residents will be forced to move from their homes to get the care they need if the proposal goes ahead.
Some of the key themes raised in the consultation include:
The full report contains a longer summary and detailed appendices - download a copy below.
We are consulting with residents and stakeholders on changes to the way that care is provided at Newington Court in Ticehurst. The changes should help us to reduce the number of vacant flats at the scheme and limit financial losses.
It would mean some changes to how people are supported at the service, so we want to know what residents and their families think about the proposals and how they will be affected. We are also keen to hear from local partners and organisations with an interest.
How to take part
The consultation runs for 6 weeks, closing on 18 December. You can share your views on our proposal by:
If you need this information in another format or language please contact us. You can also get in touch if you need help to take part in the consultation.
For a number of years, we have found it more and more difficult to attract new residents with eligible care needs to Newington Court. This means properties are left empty and there are not enough people needing care to justify the 24/7 care team.
The current environment is reported to feel empty and not as vibrant as it once was due to the persistent level of vacancies. The reduced number of residents has also led to financial losses for us and the landlord.
We are proposing to change the way care is provided at Newington Court from an Extra Care scheme, with a 24/7 on-site care team, to a ‘Housing with Care’ scheme, as follows:
Emergency calls through the pull-cord system would go through to Optivo’s commissioned Lifeline service (Welbeing). They would support you, connect you to an emergency service, if this was required, and contact your next of kin to let them know.
We are proposing to pay for some additional on-site support if the proposals were agreed. This could offer residents support with speaking to a GP, ringing Adult Social Care, or providing a regular on-site activity – these are just some examples. We would like to understand the views of residents on what additional daytime support may be needed or desirable.
The residents of Newington Court have all received a letter about the consultation and a copy of the Frequently Asked Questions. We will be working with the landlord to ensure they can all take part in the consultation.
What happens next?
A decision will be made on whether to change how care is provided at Newington Court in January 2021. The Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health will consider the consultation results and Equality Impact Assessment when making his decision.
Residents at Newington Court will be informed of the decision either way in January. If the proposal was agreed the service would change to a Housing with Care scheme from November 2021. This would give us plenty of time to review residents’ care needs and discuss their options with them.
Privacy information: This survey is anonymous and we don't ask you to provide any personal information. Please ensure that any comments you provide don't include any names or personal details of you or anyone else. More information about how your data will be stored and processed can be found in the privacy notice.
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