Proposals to close two care homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) have been called in by councillors. The council’s cabinet has agreed to consult on proposals to close Ferndale House care home in Ferndale and Cae Glas care home in Hawthorn and to create a new specialist dementia care facility in Ferndale.
The council stated that falling demand for traditional care homes has led to over a third of available beds in the council’s care homes currently being vacant. The proposed changes are estimated to save the council around £2 million per year. However, three councillors have signed a call-in to prompt cabinet members to reconsider the proposals before consultation.
Councillors Cathy Lisles (Independent), Paula Evans (Plaid Cymru), and Karl Johnson (Conservative) have raised several concerns in their call-in. These include the need for a more cost-effective and sustainable care solution, a detailed examination of deficits in council-run care homes, and greater consideration of the impact on residents and their families.
The council highlighted residents’ preference for retaining independence in their homes or independent living complexes as they age. They are aiming to invest in modern care accommodation, particularly for dementia care, in the Rhondda Fach area. Plans are already in progress to develop the Chubb factory site in Ferndale for this purpose.
A cabinet report cited that Ferndale House Care Home does not meet modern care standards and has low resident numbers, making it financially unsustainable. It was proposed that all residents would have the opportunity to move to a new care home in Ferndale once completed. Similarly, Cae Glas Care Home in Hawthorn has not reached full capacity and is financially unsustainable, according to the report.
The call-in will be addressed in a special meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on September 27. If passed, the matter will be referred back to the cabinet for reconsideration. Otherwise, the decision to proceed with the consultation will take effect.
The council assured it will explore redeployment opportunities for staff affected by the closures. The outcome of the call-in will determine the next steps in the process as the council seeks to address the changing landscape of care provision in RCT.