Agenda item

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which requested that the existing contract for residential care at Leahurst and Woodcrofts be extended to no later than 31^st March 2010.

            It was reported that the focus of all mental health services was recovery and social inclusion for people with mental health problems, by supporting the individual to live as independent a life as possible, empowering them to take control of their lives and helping to develop or maintain the life skills necessary to do so.

            It was further advised that Halton Borough Council was performing well in supporting adults with mental health problems to live in their own homes rather than being admitted to long-term residential care. However, there were still two residential homes in the Borough providing care to people with mental health problems. At times, residential care was the most appropriate place for people to recover from a significant episode of mental illness but with the improvements in mental health treatment and care in the community, it should no longer be seen as a long-term support solution. It was noted that the people currently resident in these homes should be offered choices in how they lived and provided with the necessary support to retain or regain their independent living skills, if at all possible.

            The Board were advised that Leahurst had 26 places whilst Woodcrofts had 21, both provided services for adults with mental health problems and were owned by two different providers. At present, Leahurst had 13 Halton Borough Council residents and Woodcrofts had 12 Halton Borough Council residents. Commission for Social Care Inspectorate completed unannounced inspections during 2007 and both homes were rated as “good”.

            It was reported that fees were paid under the existing residential contract rate agreed by Executive Board Sub-Committee in June 2005 plus annual inflation uplifts. The current fee level in respect of Leahurst and Woodcrofts was £378.23.

            It was further reported that a review of the current and future needs of those people with mental health needs living in residential care would be undertaken this year and a report detailing the outcomes of the review would be submitted to the Health Policy and Performance Board by the end of 2009.

            Arising from the discussion, the Board noted that accurate quarterly standards were provided resulting from internal inspections carried out locally that provided an up to date picture of the standards in Halton at the current time.

            RESOLVED: That

(1) in the exceptional circumstances set out below, for the purpose of Standing Order 1.6, the tendering requirements of Procurement Standing Orders be waived on this occasion on the basis that residential services offered by Hilton Residential Homes Limited and Woodcrofts Residential Homes Limited should be reviewed in light of the changing needs of people with severe and enduring mental health problems, the proposed amendments to residential care contracts aligning funding scales to levels of dependency. In addition, the existing contract for these services be extended to 31^st March 2010 in line with the contracted rate previously agreed by the Board, plus an inflationary uplift of 2.5% to allow a full review to take place; and

(2) a report outlining the current and future residential needs for people with severe and enduring mental health problems be presented to the Health Policy and Performance Board by the end of 2009.