DEVON County Council has announced proposals to transfer its residential homes for older people to new operators.

The authority says this will bring more certainty to the future of the homes and their residents.

The new proposals follow the abortive sell-off of all the homes en masse to one private company by the previous administration.

Instead the aim is for the homes to be transferred as going concerns, in a flexible way, that allows smaller, local care providers to become involved.

Devon also wants to secure an extra 600 beds in the private sector for high level and more complex residential care needs.

Since 2004 the council has wanted to move away from providing residential care in council-run homes to commissioning care from the private sector.

In this way the homes can be run more efficiently in a way that allows Devon to invest in a range of other community-based services that meet the demands of Devon's growing elderly population.

The council aims to separate the transfer of its homes as going concerns from the purchase of small block contracts, in 10 bed units.

This will allow bidders to bid for homes, without necessarily taking up contracts with the county council. It will also allow smaller care providers to bid for block contracts to deliver the extra care beds needed for the future.

Councillor Stuart Barker, Devon County Council's cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "Our first priority is the residents and staff in our homes, and we will be doing everything we can to allay any concerns they may have.

"We are absolutely committed to our homes as going concerns, so any changes as a result of this process will not mean that they will have to move.

"We have designed our tender carefully and flexibly so that it will present opportunities for small, medium and larger private sector care providers.

"Bidders will be able to bid for a home or homes, and they will be able to bid for the purchase of contracts. That gives care providers a choice. Some may want to purchase contracts to help raise part of the finance to purchase the homes.

"At the same time, we want to secure an extra 600 beds on longer contracts with private sector care providers for higher level and more complex residential care needs such the latter stages of dementia. And for people with nursing care needs from qualified nursing staff.

"Before we advertise the tender, we will be consulting with care home staff and keeping all residents and their families informed.

"Once evaluation of the tenders is complete, from June 2010, there will be further consultation on the specific proposals."

alan-quick@crediton

couriernewspaper.co.uk