Quality Is The Key In Modernising Services For The Elderly

Members of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee have confirmed their commitment to matching the high quality of care provided by staff in Council residential care in the Highlands with high quality and modern homes.

Quality and innovation will be foremost in their minds when they invite the independent sector to provide 160 care home places currently delivered at Grant House, Grantown; Wade Centre, Kingussie; Invernevis House, Fort William; Burnside and Ach an Eas, both Invernesss; Duthac House, Tain and Urray House, Muir of Ord.

Proposals are being invited from the independent sector to provide 30 beds in Badenoch and Strathspey; 30 in Fort William; 44 in Inverness and 56 in Mid/East Ross.

A sub-committee of the Housing and Social Work Committee has been set up to agree the specification for the tender documents which will be issued to interested parties from the independent sector. The sub-committee meets next on 16 February and its deliberations will be reported to each meeting of the Housing and Social Work Committee. There is also to be a special seminar on the matter.

Given the cost of refurbishing ageing Council care homes to meet Care Commission and Disability Discrimination Act standards, the Committee has agreed that the independent sector is better placed to find the investment to provide innovative and high quality residential cares services, which would be secured on the basis of a contract spanning a minimum of 15 years.

Convener Councillor Alison Magee said: "Quality is an absolute factor. We know that residents really appreciate the care they receive from our staff. We need to provide homes that match this excellence in service, based where they are most convenient for the people they serve. We are looking to the independent sector to come forward with quality and innovative proposals."

The Council, she said, will be working closely with NHS Highland to ensure an integrated approach to care packages available to older people.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of the Housing and Social Work Committee, said: "We promise to make the process as open and transparent as we can. We have issued a newsletter to staff and one to residents and families and will keep everyone informed as best we possibly can. 

"We would not devote so much time and effort unless we were sure that it was in the best interests of our older people.  There is active interest from the independent sector and we want to progress the tender process as quickly as possible."

Note:  The Council currently spends £11 million per year on providing care for 330 residents in 21 care homes. At the same time, it buys services from the independent sector to provide residential care for 1,000 older people.