Moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Nafsika Butller-Thalassis
The Council notes the deeply troubling situation in Garside House and wider concerns about standards and practices at Sanctuary-run care homes in Westminster.
The Council believes that all residents of Westminster’s Care Homes should be treated with dignity and looked after to the highest possible standards.
The Council also believes that the current outsourced arrangements where homes are managed by Sanctuary Care are not fit for purpose.
The Council further believes that more direct and consistent oversight of the functioning of the Council's care homes and relevant facilities being created in the SHSOP programme will be required in future to ensure all residents get the standard of care they deserve.
The Council resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to:
· Work to remove operational control of care homes in Westminster from Sanctuary as soon as is legally possible
· Appoint an independent review of bi-borough contract management in Adult Social Care
· Take steps to end the joint contracting and management arrangements for care homes with the NHS so that Westminster retains responsibility only for the homes it owns
· Restore direct council management of council owned care homes in Westminster
Minutes:
12.1 The Minority Party had selected for debate the notice of motion as set out on the agenda. The notice of motion was moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis.
12.2 The Majority Party had submitted an amendment to the notice of motion as set out on the order paper.
12.3 Councillor Louise Hyams moved and it was seconded by Councillor Jim Glen that the notice of motion be amended, as follows:
That the Notice of Motion be amended as follows:
Supporting the delivery of care in Westminster Care Homes
The Council notes the deeply troubling situation in Garside
House and wider concerns about standards and practices at
Sanctuary-run care homes in Westminster.
[INSERT] serious nature of the allegations reported at Garside House Nursing Home and believes that the priority of this Council is to ensure that all residents of care homes in Westminster
The Council believes that all residents of Westminster’s
Care Homes should be treated with
dignity and looked after to the highest possible
standards.
[INSERT]
The Council notes that action has already been taken to investigate these allegations and to put in place interim management measures to improve practice and protect residents’ safety. This has been delivered in liaison with key partner agencies.
The Council also believes that the current outsourced
arrangements where homes are managed by Sanctuary Care are not fit
for purpose.
The Council further believes that more direct and consistent
oversight of the functioning
of the Council's care homes and relevant facilities being created
in the SHSOP
programme will be required in future to ensure all residents
get the
standard of care they deserve.
The Council resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to:
[INSERT]
· Consider the findings of the CQC investigation and take swift and proportionate action to ensure the highest standards are care are delivered at Garside House as well as across all Westminster-run care homes.
· Continue to support the residents and families of Garside House throughout the police investigation.
· Work to remove operational control
of care homes in Westminster from Sanctuary as soon as is legally
possible
· Appoint
an independent review of bi-borough contract management in Adult
Social Care
· Take steps to end the joint contracting and management arrangements for care homes with the NHS so that Westminster City Council retains responsibility only for the homes it owns
· Restore
direct council management of council owned care homes in
Westminster
12.4 Following debate, the Lord Mayor put the amendment to the Motion to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment to the motion CARRIED.
12.5 The Lord Mayor then put the Substantive Motion to the vote and on a show of hands declared the Substantive Motion CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
The Council notes the serious nature of the allegations reported at Garside House Nursing Home and believes that the priority of this Council is to ensure that all residents of care homes in Westminster should be treated with dignity and looked after to the highest possible standards.
The Council notes that action has already been taken to investigate these allegations and to put in place interim management measures to improve practice and protect residents’ safety. This has been delivered in liaison with key partner agencies.
The Council resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to:
· Consider the findings of the CQC investigation and take swift and proportionate action to ensure the highest standards are care are delivered at Garside House as well as across all Westminster-run care homes.
· Continue to support the residents and families of Garside House throughout the police investigation.
· Take steps to end the joint contracting and management arrangements for care and nursing homes with the NHS so that Westminster City Council retains responsibility only for the homes it owns.