Housing with Care (Extra Care Housing)
The Council currently has access to 13 Extra Care housing schemes, mainly through nomination agreements.
Extra Care housing supports 465 people. Extra care housing schemes range for the largest scheme of 66 flats to the smallest 24. The largest (and newest) scheme is Tennyson Court.
The average size of an Extra Care scheme is 36 flats. The size of the Extra Care schemes reflects the population for each area and the rurality of Somerset.
There are Extra care housing schemes in the following areas:
- Taunton 2 schemes
- Wellington 1 scheme
- Chard 1 scheme
- Ilminster 1 scheme
- Crewkerne 1 scheme
- Yeovil 2 schemes
- Bridgwater 2 schemes
- Burnham on Sea 1 scheme
- Minehead 1 scheme
- Frome 1 scheme
The Council commissions 24-hour care and support in each of these schemes to enable people to maintain and improve their independence and wellbeing, maintaining their tenancy and preventing admissions into more acute social care and health services.
For 2023/24 the Council have increased the guide price for Extra Care housing care and support contracts by £9.04%. Generally, the Council will only work with a commissioned care and support provider at an Extra Care housing scheme.
Somerset Council want to see the development of vibrant and new Extra care schemes that meet the needs of local people. The Council is currently in the process of reviewing its arrangements for Extra Care Housing ahead of a recommissioning process. The review and future Extra Cate housing will be based on:
- vibrant, busy Extra Care schemes that have a community presence, with people from outside coming into the scheme, as well as being a valued member of society.
- commissioned integrated care and support services that are outcome based and assist people to maximise their potential for independence.
- preventing inappropriate hospital admissions.
- responsive to flexible and changing needs.
- helping people with care and support needs to be involved in their local community.
- working in partnership with other providers to reduce duplication and improve opportunities for people living in Extra Care housing.
- We want to work with housing providers to build at least one Extra Care scheme every two years over the next 10 years. The Council would look to commission the care and support in these new Extra care schemes.