Thanks to everyone who had their say in our residential care homes consultations, which are now closed.
Download the report highlighting the responses and other key information on our current care homes provision.
This report and information will help inform those councillors tasked with making decisions on the future of our city council run care homes.
Providing excellent services for older people
We've been told older people want to live as independently as they can, for as long as possible. As a result, we need to develop more services such as short-term residential care and more support for people wanting to stay at home.
To develop new services that older people want, we need to look carefully at the services we run now and make decisions about whether they offer quality and value for money.
This page explains why we need to change our residential care services for older people, and lists the different proposals we consulted on.
Back to top
Why do we need to change?
There are several reasons why we must change how we deliver services to older people in the city:
- Developing new services, as alternatives to long-term residential care, will help older people to remain independent for longer. These new services include short-term residential care and support to help older people to stay in their home for as long as possible.
- The number of older people living in the city is increasing. Because we have less money to provide services, this means we need to look carefully at costs and consider working in different ways.
- The council’s homes are becoming less and less popular, with the number of new residents falling each year. Many of the homes require major improvement and modernisation. Money is not available to pay for this.
- Places in council homes cost on average £214 more per person per week than other homes in the independent and voluntary sectors.
Back to top
What care homes were included in the second consultation?
The following homes were included:
• Abbey House
• Arbor House
• Cooper House
• Elizabeth House
• Herrick Lodge
• Nuffield House
• Preston Lodge
• Thurn Court.
What are the proposals for change?
Although we consulted on the three main proposals below, we wanted to hear detailed and wide ranging views. Any final decisions from the consultation may result in a combination of the options or have different outcomes for individual homes.
Proposal 1 - Reinvesting in intermediate care through closing some or all of the homes
This proposal would mean working with residents and their families to find homes in the independent or voluntary sector. This includes Extra Care type housing. This would allow the homes to close.
Proposal 2 - Selling or leasing all or some of the homes as going concerns to voluntary, independent or social enterprise providers
This would mean that one or more organisations would take over the care of residents, the employment of staff and the maintenance of the buildings. Residents would be able to choose to stay in the homes, but the plan would be for new organisations to develop and modernise the homes in the future.
The council will try and encourage market interest by holding a series of provider forums as part of the consultation exercise. This could include setting up a social enterprise, dependent on someone/or a group developing a financially sustainable business plan.
Proposal 3 - Reduce the number of homes by closing those with (or when they have) low occupancy, and not having anymore new admissions to the homes.
This proposal recognises the fact that homes with low occupancy are less cost effective and can impact on the morale of residents and the workforce. It allows a phased approach to closure over time and maximises the efficiency of the homes that remain open.
Back to top
Why we consulted again
We carried out a consultation about the future of residential care homes earlier this year. The findings from this consultation are available to download at the bottom of this page.
We proposed to close all of the homes and use two of the building to develop intermediate care services, which help older people to remain independent at home.
People told us that we should look at additional options for change and involve them more. As a result, we're carried out a second consultation, which lasted from Monday 4th July until Monday 26th September.
Back to top
How did we consult?
During the consultation period (4th July until 26th September), we asked people to complete an online or paper questionnaire to tell us their views on the proposals.
We'll also spoke directly with residents; residents’ families; groups and organisations who represent older people and; staff and trade unions to find out their views and opinions.
Individuals were also invited to email us their comments. Residents and relatives could also contact their ward councillor to discuss the issues.
Back to top
When will any agreed changes happen?
Nothing will change straight away. Any changes will be introduced over a period of time and form part of longer term plans for improving services for older people.
Your views will help to inform the council’s cabinet when they consider this issue again in the autumn. No decisions will be made before then.
Back to top
Our Residential Care Homes consultation booklet
You can download a PDF version of the booklet below. You'll need Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded from the
Adobe website*.
Or read our electronic magazine version, which requires Flash Player plug-in software available from the Adobe website.
Back to top
Contact us
Need more information? Please get in touch.
By post:
Consultation Team
Adult Social Care
Leicester City Council
1 Grey Friars
Leicester
LE1 5PH
By email: residentialcare@leicester.gov.uk
By phone: 0116 256 5291
Back to top
See Also
Read more on the wider Adult Social Care Transformation process
*External links open new windows. Leicester City Council is not responsible for the content and services on external websites or any software downloaded to your computer.
Back to top
