Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: June 19, 2025

Purpose: Seek approval to decommission the out-of-hours rota, known as the Staff Visitor Service.

Content: Decision: Support and approve the proposal to decommission the Council’s non-social care out-of-hours service (known as the Staff Visitor Service), effective from 30th September 2025 (or before if consultation is completed in a timely manner). Reason(s): 1.       The Staff Visitor Service is not an advertised service but is available to residents and users of Sheltered Housing and Careline. Over recent years a combination of reduced demand, improved day time services and the availability of alternative provisions has led to a re-evaluation of its continued operation. 2.       Many functions provided by the Staff Visitor Service are now also addressed by our Telecare monitoring centre, domiciliary care providers, or on-call housing staff which has rendered the existing rota increasingly redundant. 3.       Over the past six years, there has been declining demand. Call outs have decreased by approximately 90.66% reflecting that requirements for this service have changed. 4.       Call outs have been non-emergent in nature, mostly relating to equipment faults and lost equipment. Evaluation of other Local Authority services showed that these types of calls are dealt with during working hours and have a 24hr response time. 5.       The service operates at a high cost per visit due to the low call-out volumes and the need for stand-by staffing. The annual budget for salaries of £41,156.42 is no longer justified by usage levels. 6.       Workforce pressures has meant that recruiting and retaining staff for out of hours roles has proven difficult, leading to concerns over inconsistent service delivery longer term. Other options considered and rejected by the Executive: To not decommission and close the Staff Visitor Service.  Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted: None.