- Purpose of Report
To provide background context in support of the request for the Assistant Chief Minister to amend the housing category of 48 units of accommodation within Convent Court[1] so that the identified properties are able to house licensed locum and agency key workers.
- Background and Reason for Decision
The Future Hospital project requires the demolition of both Westaway Court and Peter Crill House, these buildings currently provide a sizable proportion of the Health and Community Services Department’s temporary accommodation both for locum and agency staff. The current condition of these buildings is such that they are not suitable for long term use as key worker accommodation. Moreover this reclassification of accommodation is required in any event due to the Health and Community Services Department’s accommodation being usually oversubscribed. This places a pressure upon the Health and Community Services Department to secure a temporary alternative solution to meet the housing requirements of these short term locum and agency staff.
The reason for this decision is to enable the occupation of accommodation by short term licenced key workers which includes Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers and other key children’s workforce professionals that are essential for the continuation of the delivery of vital services to the island. These workers are to be transferred into refurbished Andium Homes Limited housing at Convent Court that is of a suitable standard favourably comparable to keyworker accommodation provided by NHS trusts in the UK.
Convent Court provides the required mix of accommodation necessary for the housing of locum and agency staff contracted to deliver essential services within the island. It consists of a range of studio and 2 bedroom accommodation and would total 48 units – See Appendix 1.
Due to various factors, it is difficult to forecast the future accommodation requirements of the aforementioned staff groups. It may be necessary to increase the specific units required in the event the number of or size of accommodation required by individual locum or agency staff changes; further work to develop an understanding of key worker accommodation needs is already underway.
- Recommendation
The Assistant Chief Minister is recommended to approve the amendment to the classification of accommodation for the above described dwelling accommodation within Convent Court from Qualified to Registered in accordance with Article 15(1) of the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012. Under the law an owner of a unit of dwelling accommodation may apply to the Minister to change the housing category of the unit of dwelling accommodation or to specify or vary the conditions relating to the housing category of the unit of dwelling accommodation.
Under Article 15(3), the Minister may, of his or her own motion, or following an application under paragraph (1), make a determination relating to any of the following –
(a) a change in the categorization of a unit of dwelling accommodation;
(b) specification or a variation of the conditions relating to the housing category of a unit of dwelling accommodation.
Article 15(7) states that in making a determination under paragraph (3), the Minister shall have regard to any relevant factors relating to the supply and demand of housing, particularly in relation to the interests of persons with Entitled status and may have regard to any other factors he or she considers relevant.
- Resource Implications
The cost of providing this accommodation amounts to a maximum of £47,489.52 per month, which will be offset by rental charges to staff occupying the accommodation, the balance being met by the Department. (see appendices 1&2 below)
- Appendix 1
The numbers highlighted in yellow reflect the flats that could be made available for Key Worker accommodation.
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6. Appendix 2
Policy for Accommodation charges
Role | Housing Quals | Rent subsidy | Service Costs |
FY1 | Registered | 100% | TBC |
FY2 | Registered | 100% | TBC |
Clinical Fellows/GP trainees | Registered | 100% | TBC |
Staff Grades & Associate Specialists | Licensed | 0% | TBC |
All locums and agency staff | Registered | 0% | TBC |
AHPs | Licensed | 0% | TBC |
Nursing staff (Sisters, Staff Nurses on permanent contracts) | Licensed | 0% | TBC |