Decision details

(i)  To consider the outcome of the staff consultation on the future use of Glen Lee and Holcroft House residential care homes.

(ii)  To re-consider Cabinet’s in principle resolution to close Glen Lee and retain Council provision at Holcroft House, taking in to account the outcome of a formal staff consultation.

(iii)  To approve the closure of Glen Lee residential care home, when all of the residents have been supported to move to suitable alternative placements.

1  Taking into account the outcome of the full public consultation and subsequent staff consultation, the option of closing Glen Lee and retaining Holcroft House is considered to be the optimal way of delivering the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, as approved in February 2019.

2  Forecasts show that less residential care will be needed in the future, as more people will receive care in their own homes or in extra care housing schemes. However, retaining Holcroft House will ensure that the Council maintains an offer of provision in the local residential dementia care market.

3  Demand for adult social care is increasing, but the demand for residential care is decreasing as care is increasingly being provided in people’s own homes, including in extra care housing and Shared Lives schemes.

4  People are living longer with complex health conditions and would like a choice in how their care is provided.

5  There is an over-provision of residential care placements in the local area.

6  The unit costs for in house services are higher, and therefore savings can be generated by closing one home.

7  A new proposed staff structure will help ensure the safe and efficient delivery of high-quality care and support to the residents of Holcroft House in the future and, in time, the Council will work for it to become a centre of excellence for dementia care in Southampton, providing a greater range of support to communities, alongside permanent and short-term respite care. 

1.  The option to close both Glen Lee and Holcroft House residential care homes and to offer alternative provision within the private market was rejected after taking into account the outcome from public and staff consultations, the views of relatives of current and former residents, and the findings of a task and finish group comprising Members, Officers, staff and trade union representatives.

2.   The option to keep both Glen Lee and Holcroft House open and operating as they do currently was rejected as this was not considered to be economical due to the alternative provision of suitable alternatives within the city and the surrounding area, including current and planned extra care housing schemes.

3.  The option to consider an alternative care provision model, including conversion of Glen Lee in to a nursing home, was rejected as the size of the site is considered to be too small to be economically viable.