No decision on future of home
Social care bosses have denied there are any imminent plans to stop services for the elderly at a rural care home which has just one permanent resident.
Twelve-bed Strathendrick Care Home faced closure three years ago in order to support the funding of Stirling’s Care Village.
Closure was averted when Stirling councillors for the area persuaded Stirling Council of the need for a care hub serving the western rural areas, providing short term respite care and intermediate care.
But at a meeting of Stirling Council’s finance committee last month councillors heard alternative uses were being considered for the building, with the cash-strapped Integrated Joint Board, the body now responsible for some aspects of social care and health, thought to make the ultimate decisions relating to allocating resources.
At a full meeting of Stirling Council last Thursday, however, this appeared to be played down.
Tory councillor Alistair Berrill asked chair of the council’s adults social care panel, SNP councillor Susan McGill, to confirm where the legal decision making power actually resides.
She replied:“The IJB is the responsible body for planning the model of care, both community and buildings-based. Stirling Council is responsible for the asset, in this case the building.”
Councillor Berrill, however, said:“The closure of this care home was proposed years ago but we were delighted to secure its long-term future.
“Now, however, there are fresh question marks over its future and this [Councillor McGill’s answer] doesn’t really answer that.
“If the IJB decide for operational, financial or other reasons to close this home, can they do this without the agreement of the council?”
Councillor McGill said:“The IJB has responsibility for commissioning of services, Stirling Council owns the building and is responsible for running it.
“No decision has been made yet on the long term future, however there will be discussions with communities.”
Councillor Berrill, however, said:“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Later in the meeting, councillors were given the opportunity to quiz Annemargaret Black, chief officer of Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership – a joint partnership between NHS Forth Valley, Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils.
When asked by Councillor Berrill what the intentions were for Strathendrick Care Home, she said:“At the moment no decision has been taken.”
However, she added that a care needs assessment for the wider area would“drill down” into smaller areas and a key element was supporting people“closer to home”.
“There are no plans for Strathendrick Care Home at this point, except the model that’s there,” she said.
Told by Councillor Berrill that there had been concern at a recent meeting of Strathblane Community Council that elderly people who could be sent to the home for respite were being sent to Stirling instead, Ms Black said that was “inaccurate”.
At last month’s council finance committee, senior manager for children and families, Marie Valente said:“I wouldn’t be in a position to give reassurance other than I paid a site visit last week to look at the possibility of using Strathendrick for other types of care. We are at the stage of considering this just now and whether it can be used for children. Annemargaret Black is looking to see if it can be used for adults with disabilities. But it is in the very early stages.”
Council leader Scott Farmer, who is a member of the IJB, said:“It’s my clear understanding that under the terms of the care partnership, it’s up to the board.’’