Boost for Extra Care in Winchester

Twenty four hour care and support services on site from next year are set to raise two sheltered housing developments in Winchester to Extra Care standards.

At the Adult Services Decision Day on 26 October, Cllr Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, gave the go-ahead to tender for care and support services for enhanced Extra Care at Danemark Court and Matilda Place for a minimum of two years and nine months, with the option to extend the contract by an additional two years. This includes an initial contract value of up to £188,653 a year and a total maximum contract value for four years and nine months of around £1.95 million.

The two sheltered housing schemes are run by Winchester City Council.

In 2007 the Cabinet approved the strategic aim of securing a total of 400 units of Extra Care housing in the first phase of development. It was anticipated that 200 of these would be within new-build Extra Care developments and 200 would result from enhancing existing sheltered housing schemes. The inclusion in the enhanced programme of the two schemes at Danemark Court and Matilda Place in Winchester will add an additional 55 units to the planned provision proposed in 2007.The County Council's commitment to the expansion of Extra Care housing for older people includes an investment of £45m to develop the next round of Extra Care housing developments, in partnership with district councils and providers.

Cllr Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Services said:

"As part of the first phase of our programme to develop Extra Care facilities in Hampshire, two sheltered housing schemes in Winchester will benefit from additional care and support. Once this support is in place, Danemark Court and Matilda Place will contribute an extra 55 units to the County Council's planned expansion of Extra Care 200 in new build developments and 200 from enhancing existing sheltered housing schemes

"The care and support to be provided will ensure that residents in the schemes have access to services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"There are clear benefits for people living in Extra Care developments, including staying independent for longer, being less likely to be admitted to hospital, having better health and experiencing fewer falls. As well as providing a safe environment, couples with different care needs are able to stay together and people can be part of the local community. Extra Care housing is also more cost effective than residential care, as people meet their own housing costs or are supported through funding such as housing benefit.

"We are investing £45 million into Extra Care over the next few years and the support for the two schemes in Winchester demonstrates our commitment to modern, high quality care for older people.

"Another benefit is that couples with differing care needs can stay together, without one of them having to go into a residential home. The investment we are making in Extra Care will allow us to support hundreds more residents to stay independent for longer.

"The new Extra Care scheme in Winchester has been made possible by our partnership with Winchester City Council. When the new contract is in place next year, we will share a jointly agreed process for identifying suitable people for the schemes.

"This is another good example of how our reserves are put to one-off uses to fund the cost of restructuring and transforming the way that services are delivered."

Extra Care, in partnership with developers, housing providers, care providers and 11 district councils, is Hampshire County Council's response to the changing needs of an ageing population.

In September 2007 the County Council's Cabinet approved the Adult Services Development of Extra-Care Housing Report. The report set out how emerging evidence from the early Extra Care schemes nationally indicated that Extra Care Housing brought benefits to individuals, the wider community and to Adult Social Care authority. Since then further evidence has emerged to support this view. Research undertaken by the International Longevity Centre-UK, found that compared to those living in the community receiving domiciliary care, those in Extra-Care housing are less likely to enter institutional accommodation, experience better health outcomes, are less likely to be hospitalised, and experience a lower number of falls. Research undertaken by the Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Kent, concluded that when comparing like clients, those living in Extra Care had improved mortality and survival rates over those who moved into residential or nursing care homes.

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