Appendix 2 - East Sussex County Council

Report to: Cabinet (EXTRACT re Mount Denys)Appendix 2Date: 16 th October 2001By:Title of report:Purpose of report:Director of Social ServicesReview of Directly Provided Homes for Older PeopleTo agree the order and timetable of the individual reviews of thedirectly provided homes for older peopleRECOMMENDATIONSThe Cabinet is recommended to:1. agree that reviews of the directly provided homes for older people be carried out in theorder and timetable set out in Annex 1.2. agree to a six month period of formal consultation on the future of Mount Denys andthat at the end of the period of consultation a further report is presented to enable adecision to be made about the future of the home.ANNEX 3Residential Services for Older People withMental Illness in Hastings and RotherFuture of Mount Denys, Hastings.1. Financial Implications1.1 Capital costs to comply with National Minimum Standards: £1.2m - £1.3m1.2 Current Mount Denys revenue costs: £630,000 p.a.1.3 Project management costs: £22,800 p.a.2. Reasons for the review of Mount Denys2.1.1 Mount Denys has operated since 1986 as a joint Health/Social Services facility for olderpeople with mental illness in Hastings and Rother. (Appendix 1) The scheme is considered to havebeen very successful, and remains highly regarded. It provides a unique service, which is notcurrently available elsewhere in the area. However, following an extensive multi-agency review, itis proposed that change is necessary, for the following reasons:2.1.2 Mount Denys will not meet all the National Minimum Standards, which take effect with theimplementation of the Care Standards Act 2000 on 1 st April 2002.2.1.3 Additionally, 16 Mount Denys bedrooms do not meet existing registration standards. Thesecannot be used from 1 st April 2002 unless clear plans are in place for the future of the MountDenys services.2.1.4 The existing facilities are no longer in line with best practice, and need to change to meetthe present and future dependency needs of the local population.C:\web site stuff\ctee reports \C30July2002Item16Appendix2MountDenys.docLast printed 7/24/2002 4:01 PM

2.1.5 To achieve a better, more integrated service with greater continuity of care.2.1.6 To derive the fullest possible value from public funds.3. Essential criteria for a re-provided service3.1 A multi-disciplinary ‘Re-provisioning Group’ has completed a review of Mount Denys, andgiven consideration to future services for older people with mental illness in Hastings and Rother,against the following criteria:3.1.1 The pattern of services must be in line with present and anticipated future needs.3.1.2 Services and environment must meet the National Minimum Standards.3.1.3 Account should be taken of enabling present long-term Mount Denys residents to remaintogether, to preserve friendships and continuity.3.1.4 Minimise disruption to present Mount Denys residents.3.1.5 Services must be in the Hastings locality.3.1.6 Health/SSD partnership needed to ensure ease of access to full spectrum of services.3.1.7 Making best possible use of public finances, to the benefit of service users.4. Consultation4.1 Best Value and the Human Rights Act set consultation as an essential principle of anyproposals for change. Effective formal consultation with users and carers and other stakeholders,including the recognised trade unions, will be essential. Legal advice is that a sufficient period oftime should be allowed for proper consultation. A six-month period of consultation is thereforerecommended.5. Risks5.1 The following are potential risks: -5.1.1 Some Local Authorities have experienced legal challenges when future plans for residentialhomes have been canvassed. The Human Rights Act may be used in some instances. Effectiveconsultation, which is appropriately taken into account when any decision is made on the future ofa home, is essential to minimise such challenges. However, any challenge (successful or not)could impact upon the process and have significant financial consequences for the County Counciland other stakeholders.5.1.2 The necessary improvements would require major changes to the Mount Denys building, ata cost of £1.2 to £1.3 million, with consequent reduced occupancy. These works would involvetemporary closure and create considerable disruption.5.1.3 The services provided by Mount Denys are not currently available elsewhere in the area. IfMount Denys were to close, a suitable replacement facility may not be available unlessESCC/ESBHHA were to commission the development of capacity to meet the complex andspecialised present and future needs of this user group.5.1.4 If closure becomes the ultimate decision, taking into account all the necessary information,there would be a need to sensitively manage transfers to reduce the negative impact of movingolder people from their home environment. A significant investment in social work time, in the formof a dedicated project team, would be required to minimise this.5.1.5 Similarly, if closure becomes an option, retention of staff may become an issue during theconsultation period, as staff may begin to seek jobs elsewhere. Employing agency staff to coverwould add additional cost and could affect quality and morale.David ArchibaldDirector of Social ServicesContact Officers: Mike Walsh, Head of Older People’s Services (01273) 481351Gary Samuel, Performance Manager, ESBHHA (01273) 403532C:\web site stuff\ctee reports \C30July2002Item16Appendix2MountDenys.docLast printed 7/24/2002 4:01 PM

C:\web site stuff\ctee reports \C30July2002Item16Appendix2MountDenys.docLast printed 7/24/2002 4:01 PM

Appendix OneBackground1. Mount Denys is a residential home, which provides mental health services for older peoplein Hastings and Rother. The home was refurbished and opened in August 1986, as ahealth and social services partnership. It provided services for organically impairedinpatients transferred from two long-stay hospital wards following the closure of Hellinglyhospital. This partnership scheme was seen as highly innovative and received nationalattention, including praise from the Audit Commission. The original 10-year agreement toprovide this service has been extended annually since 1996.2. The services are designed for people with complex mental health needs who requireaccess to continuous multi-disciplinary support. The building belongs to the County Counciland the service is staffed and managed by Social Services. The service is commissionedby the East Sussex, Brighton, and Hove Health Authority (ESBHHA), with access via theHastings and Rother NHS Trust (HaRT) psychiatric team based at St. Anne’s Centre.3. Mount Denys provides 21 long stay beds, 5 rapid response beds and 5 respite care beds. Itoperates in conjunction with the Social Services day care centre at Pinehill, adjacent toMount Denys.C:\web site stuff\ctee reports \C30July2002Item16Appendix2MountDenys.docLast printed 7/24/2002 4:01 PM