Stop RCT closures of residential care homes.

Tory austerity cuts are driving the ‘modernisation’ of residential and day care for older people in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT). A detailed proposal is out for consultation ending in early April 2019. Even before the consultation is complete, RCT has started to restrict admissions to residential care in line with its proposed option (6.14) and the consultation is focused on the Council’s proposed option of reduced residential care as opposed to sustaining the current provision.

RCT argues that the changes are about improved quality of care but also admit that they would be ‘cost effective’.

"10.1 The proposals set out in this report have the primary focus on delivering improved quality of care and support outcomes for Rhondda Cynon Taf residents. Whilst the financial implications are a secondary consideration, the proposals for change should provide more cost effective solutions to the current arrangements and these will be 
explored post consultation when a decision is taken by Cabinet on a way forward."

Further, they recognise that qualified and experienced staff will be lost (11) if the proposal is agreed.

We argue that Tory austerity are at the root of the proposal as RCT itself admits, it has made real savings of over £90m over the last ten years and is aiming to save a further £6m in the current financial year and another £6m in the coming 2019/20 financial year (6.10). These financial cuts are a direct result of the cumulative austerity cuts in the Welsh budget made by the UK government. These cuts have then been passed down to councils and other public services in Wales which, of course, includes RCT. All the links are to our People's Assembly Wales research. In RCT the current year budget savings specifically referred to savings by early intervention and increased independence in social service provision, the very language used in the current consultation document.

RCT are not alone at using day and domiciled care as a justification for more cuts. Similar moves are being made by councils for financial reasons across Wales. Essentially the aim is to reduce face to face and 24 hour support which is seen as costly in terms of staffing. Substituting instead, technical aids, collective provision and toughening the criteria for more intensive and personal support. Once in place, the criteria can be toughened and staff cut all in the name of individualized domiciled based packages, pushed by further cuts and not the needs of older people. We would argue that provision is moving not to better care but ‘domiciled solitary confinement’.

Supports the local campaign against these cuts.

A key demand should be that the option to keep the current provision is agreed by RCT.

This has to be raised with as many interested people as possible such as local councillors, AMs, MPs, affected trade unions and local Labour and other party branches. Charities such as Age Concern should also be asked to support the campaign.

It may also be possible, using our People's Assembly Wales contacts, to interest other people affected by similar cuts around Wales.

Of course this can only go forward with the agreement of the existing campaign. We hope our analysis is a help and suggest that we meet up as soon as possible to see how we can coordinate our action.