Catering Provision with Extra Care schemes
We are currently reviewing our approach to catering facilities within an Extra Care setting. One area we want to look at further is the application of a ‘Condition Of Tenancy (COT)’ upon residents as a way of ensuring a floor level of income received for the catering service providers appointed. There are differing views amongst commissioning bodies on the suitability of this approach and the perceived pros & cons for landlords and residents alike. Are there any useful approaches, models or research articles that people are willing and/or are able to share?
We have adopted a reablement approach to our extra care housing in Midlothian and there is a mix of approaches to meals. In new build we have provided both café and multi-use dining room space under an arrangement with social enterprise to deliver meals for those who are interested. We have collaborated with them to market meals service to more vulnerable and less capable individuals. Because we want people to retain their independence for as long as possible, and wish them to be in control, we have steered away from making this a requirement of tenancy.
However, in the RSL extra care that was a remodelled very sheltered scheme, they have a different scale of operation and no current capacity for catering for external people. We are working with them at the moment to remodel further to provide space that can enable lunchtime provision for others in the community and hopefully enable a more flexible approach to meals within the scheme so that individuals have choice.
Happy to discuss further - we are still in early days with the social enterprise but so far seems to be working in terms of the clients - financially its more challenging.
Hi Dan
We are in the process of producing the HousingLin Catering Factsheet that explores all the various models of catering that are out there and the different funding methods. I believe that the Catering Factsheet will be available in early Summer.
Please drop me a line if you want to discuss this further.
Helen
Hi Dan
Similar to Midlothian, we have utilised Social Enterprise / CIC within our extra care schemes over the last four years. They do bring challenges for the catering service , but overall are working well. There is no term within the tenancy agreement within any of our extra care schemes as we feel that this detracts from the 'choice' of being able to decide, how, where and what to eat. Some people may have special diets, liquid diets and others may require a private area for dignity purposes when eating, therefore, prefer to eat in their own home - it is difficult to charge people for a service in such diverse situations.
Our approach is to encourage the local community to utilise the restaurant / cafe provision within each scheme to support the restaurant provision.
We have two extra care schemes opening this year and both have arrangements in place with a CIC who train long term unemployed and socially disadvantaged people to enable them to gain employment.
I hope this is helpful,
Anne
Many thanks for the responses to my question. All are very useful.
Helen, I have since read through the Housing LIN Factsheet - Making Catering Pay and this is a good article to reference, thanks for collating nand producing.
However, does anyone have a strong view either way on applying COT as a way of safeguarding a minimum income for the catering provider?
Thanks again,
Dan
Hi Dan,
I have just logged onto LIN and noted your topic, we are currently reviewing our meal provisions with in the Extra Care schemes, we currently have a conditional tenancy however this has come up against it challenges , are you able to share good practice/ideas on how you progressed, thanks Ram