Ambitious plans for 4 new care homes tabled

THE first of four new elderly care homes due to be built at a cost of millions of pounds could open less than two years from now.

The 60-bed development will go up in Moor Road, Baglan, with residents expected to move into it in August 2013.

Neath Port Talbot Council is proposing to sign an agreement with Gwalia, a not-for-profit care and housing organisation.

Respite

It would take over the authority’s residential care and respite homes, closing them as and when their replacements are ready.

Existing council staff would transfer to Gwalia, with their existing terms and conditions guaranteed for two years.

Councillors were being asked to approve the deal at a special cabinet meeting taking place today..

Other developments will take place on land near McDonald’s in Glynneath, expected to be ready in January, 2014; Groves Road, Neath, ready in August 2014; and Rhiwlech in Croeserw, with the transition there due to take place in February, 2015.

Council chief executive Steve Phillips said: “This agreement will provide quality accommodation with a local partner which has access to funds that the council does not have access to.

“It is the way ahead and it will save us a significant amount of money over time — about £9 million over the 25 years of the contract.

“The quality of care is the foremost reason for doing this, but there are savings as well.

Access

“The council is working hard to retain services in-house where we can, but there are some areas where we do not have access to the sort of funding that our partners do.

“NPT Homes was one example. This is another.

“We have a responsibility to current and future residents to provide quality facilities and we know the council is simply not going to be in a position to provide the investment.

“This partnership with an organisation that shares our values is win-win.”

Social services director Tony Clements said Gwalia was also committed to developing services for older people with dementia, and there would be dedicated, 10-bed units within the homes.

“We feel this is very positive,” he added.

“It’s the kind of organisation we always said we wanted to do business with.

“We wanted someone with our values and we believe Gwalia will deliver that.”