The Director of Adult Care and Health Services submitted a report on a consultation with stakeholders in relation to the ongoing use of The Willows (both the Residential Home element and the Discharge to Assess (D2A) service).  The following documents were attached to the report:

·         Appendix 1 - Willows/Discharge to Assess Consultation Report

·         Appendix 2 - Equality Impact Assessment – Discharge To Assess/Charles Clore Court

·         Appendix 3 - Equality Impact Assessment - Willows

The report explained that the consultation had proposed moving the Discharge to Assess beds from The Willows site to Charles Clore Court (an Extra Care provision), and closing The Willows as a residential care home for people with dementia.  The proposals had been driven by NHS Improvement guidance which stated that bed-based services were a perverse incentive to the Home First ethos for a Discharge To Assess service, as they tended to be used by the hospital system as a quick and ‘safe’ discharge option particularly at times of higher pressure.  The proposed relocation of the Discharge to Assess service from a residential setting to an extra care setting also supported the national requirement (under the Better Care Fund) to implement the “High Impact Change Model” for reducing delayed transfers of care from hospital settings.

The report summarised the main themes emerging from the consultation and the associated Adult Social Care management responses, which were set out in detail at Appendix 1 attached to the report.  The report also set out the staffing implications of the proposals.  Potential options for use of The Willows site in the future would be considered in a review of internal services which was being carried out by the Transformation Team in Adult Social Care.

Resolved –

(1)     That the consultation themes and associated management response be noted;

(2)     That the relocation of the Discharge to Assess service to Charles Clore Court be approved;

(3)     That the temporary closure of the Willows site be approved and the potential staffing implications noted.