THE next steps have been taken towards the redevelopment of the Elizabeth House care home site in Grays.

A shortlist of possible care providers for the site in Long lane has now been drawn up and submitted to a project board for approval.

Thurrock Council has agreed that ‘Extra Care Supported Housing’ be developed at the site and in June it invited agencies to demonstrate their interest and suitability for the scheme.

Thirteen organisations responded and now a shortlist of potential providers has been submitted.

The organisations shortlisted have shown experience of innovative, community-based schemes developed in partnership with housing, health and social care groups.

Councillor Amanda Arnold, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care said: “Extra Care housing is an increasingly popular choice for older people who might otherwise moving into a care home.

“It provides greater support than traditional sheltered housing and greater independence than residential care. It will also be a development open to the wider community, as far as possible offering the same benefits and services to local older people whether resident in the scheme or not.”

Councillor Tunde Ojetola, Thurrock Council’s Cabinet member for Housing, added: “Extra Care housing provides extra support enabling residents to live as independently as possible.

"It means residents will be living in their own home- not in a home - having their own front door with a range of on-site communal facilities within the development and the reassurance of 24-hour, on-site, professional staff cover.”

Details of the services available at the site will be agreed with the successful tender organisation, but may include such things as: day services; assessment services; community-based care; respite care services; intermediate care and rehabilitative services; leisure services and possibly shopping facilities.

In addition, access to a range of community health services; either on site or from nearby health facilities or agencies will be sought.

A report is expected to go before Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet in November.