Frequently Asked Questions

Social Care, including care for older adults, is provided by a mix of local authority (HSCP/Council), independent sector providers, unpaid carers, volunteers, and third-sector organizations. The HSCP has responsibility for planning for future care needs and for the operation of a number of care homes from which it directly provides residential care for older adults. Argyll & Bute Council owns these care homes and is responsible for capital investment in them.

We are reviewing care homes and services for older people across Argyll and Bute to make sure we understand future care needs and the services we will provide in the future will meet people's needs now and in the future. The review does however need to take into account the staffing and financial constraints facing the social care system.

This project has been running for some time and the work undertaken so far includes:

• A full assessment of all of the care homes operated by the HSCP and owned by the Council. This includes identification of building maintenance needs as well as the suitability of the facilities. This included an analysis of issues such as room sizes and provision of en-suite facilities.
• An analysis of the current overall care home capacity within Argyll & Bute across the care homes we operate and the ones operated by the independent sector. 
• A review of how many older adult residents are cared for in residential care settings. This includes people who are cared for within the region and in other areas.
• We have also sought to model the future older adult population through to the 2040s so we can estimate future demand levels.
• All of this work has been undertaken for each of the sub-areas within Argyll & Bute. 
• We have also looked at how some other areas have been able to invest in new facilities and care models to learn lessons from elsewhere. 

The review identified several challenges, including a current and future shortage of residential care. At present many people are having to access residential care far away from where they live as a consequence of the shortfall in some areas. Our data highlights that this gap between capacity and demand is likely to increase.

Options include supported living, residential care, care homes, and other services that help people live as independently as possible.

An ageing population means that demand for care is increasing, it is becoming harder to recruit and retain social care staff especially in our more rural and remote areas, some facilities are outdated and there are budget pressures.

The unique circumstances of our rural and island communities can make it more challenging to provide services and it is essential that future services   reflect local needs and deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Planning will be based on population data, community feedback, stakeholder views, and evidence of future care needs. However we need to recognize two key challenges or constraints that will make it challenging for provision to meet demand in each area:

• We are already experience difficulties in recruiting staff in some areas and this is resulting in staffing shortages, use of agency staff and unstable staffing models. Our population modelling is also clear that the number of working age people in Argyll and Bute is likely to decline in many areas. 
• There are capital funding constraints that are likely to mean that the public sector will find it challenging to fund investment in new facilities.
• The HSCP is facing significant financial challenges looking ahead, these mean that our provision needs to be efficient and provide value for money. 

This project hopes to engage with independent sector providers to look for new and innovative ways of working that will encourage investment in residential care. 

It means providing high-quality care that can continue to meet demand and use resources effectively whilst doing our best to do this in a person-centered way.

The HSCP aims to provide care as locally as possible but must balance this with the need for sustainable staffing and resources. Some areas may need more residential care places, while others may have sufficient capacity. The engagement seeks input on how to best achieve this balance.

Yes. Care homes will continue to support people with higher levels of care needs.

You can attend a drop-in event, join an online event, or complete survey and feedback activities.

Anyone with an interest in local care services, including service users, carers, families, staff, and community groups.

Your feedback will help shape future plans for accommodation and care services across Argyll and Bute. Feedback will be reviewed by the Care Home & Housing Programme Board and the Executive Leadership Team of Argyll & Bute Council.  We will also share the findings of the engagement exercise and next steps, which will be shared on the engagement hub.

An online event is planned for 5^th October at 6.30pm. Registration details will be shared closer to the date on the Engagement Hub.

Updates about events, surveys, and engagement opportunities will be shared through the Engagement Hub and other local media routes.

No decisions have been made yet.  The engagement is part of a series of events to gather opinions and feedback from as many people as possible before any changes are decided.