Home to be sold to independent care provider

A SOUTH Wales council is set to sell one of its three residential care homes to an independent provider.

The 28-bed home Ty Cwm Ogwr in the Ogmore Valley had been earmarked for closure, with its residents due to move to one of the two new Extra Care Housing (ECH) schemes opening in Maesteg and Ynysawdre in October 2018.

But now members of Bridgend County Council have voted in favour of tendering the service as a going concern alonside a long-term lease for the land and building.

The plan now is that the independent provider which takes on the service will develop nursing placements for elderly mentally infirm residents, such as those with dementia. The care home’s 40 staff are expected to transfer across to the new provider.

Speaking at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, council leader Huw David said: “An important aspect of this proposal is that there are 40 members of staff working there and this option enables us to have employment opportunities in the Ogmore Valley and also nursing places there.

“We know there is a shortage: the demand for nursing home places is rising while the demand for traditional residential home places is declining.

“If we’re to be sure that a nursing home option is available, it has to be delivered and managed by the independent sector and that’s why we need to go out to tender.

“We are not able to run a nursing home ourselves.”

He added: “Even if residents there at the moment don’t have nursing needs at the moment, we will continue to accommodate them at the home, they’re not going to be moved.”

The decision follows a consultation with staff and families at the care home.

While people were overwelmingly in favour of the plans, concerns were raised the home may only cater for nursing beds in the future.

The Extra Care schemes which give residents their own apartments with 24/7 on-site support are being built at two former comprehensive school sites at Maesteg Lower in Maesteg and Archbishop McGrath in Ynysawdre.

The project, in partnership with Linc Cymru Housing Association, will create a total of 45 new Extra Care units with 20 located in Maesteg and 25 in Ynysawdre.

They will replace the ageing care homes, Hyfrydol in Maesteg and Glanyr-Afon in Ynysawdre.