PLANS to modernise Devon County Council's residential and domiciliary services, including Daw Vale at Dawlish, are continuing. Tendering to the open market for the majority of services looking set to start in October. Interest from private sector care providers in running four of the council's long stay residential homes in Ashburton, Bampton, Cullompton and Dawlish has been positive, says the council, which is concentrating negotiations with two organisations for those four homes. But as a contingency, the council's executive is this week considering whether these residential homes should be part of a larger tender exercise in October, should neither of the organisations prove acceptable. Cllr John Rawlinson, the council's executive member for adult and community services, said: 'We will not rush our decisions, because this is about getting the best services for people. We're talking to two organisations at the moment, but if neither are right, we will want to include the homes in the larger tendering exercise.' At the same time the council has been considering how and where it will provide day and respite services for people with physical disabilities and acquired brain injuries. This decision follows its announcement in May to commit further investment to spread services from the council's only facility in Exmouth to provide services closer to where people want them across Devon. Devon County Council's assistant director for adult and community services, Sam Newman, said: 'We will be asking the council's executive committee to recognise the positive work we're progressing with District Councils and the NHS regarding the joint provision of services in future. 'It is essential that care and housing services are able to support older people now and in the future, and it's because Devon has one of the highest percentages of older people that demand for care services is so high now and increasing each year. Changes that we are putting in place now will mean that Devon will continue to support its older people well, assisting them to remain independent and living in their own homes for as long as possible.'
