THE next steps for a new care village facility in Hawick have been approved by Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

At a meeting of SBC today (Thursday, January 26), an agreement was given for a full business case to be progressed for the preferred option of a new build care village at the Stirches site in Hawick.

The site, owned by Eildon Housing Association, will see the 30-bed facility co-located with a housing development also being provided by Eildon.

The care village will cost around £11.2 million, which forms part of a £23 million residential care project for the Borders.

Councillor David Parker, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “I would like to commend everyone involved for the extremely robust options appraisal and stakeholder engagement that has been undertaken on behalf of the people of Hawick.

"The engagement of Eildon Housing as partners in the project is also to be welcomed.

"We already have a successful and well-established working relationship with them, not least through the delivery of our extra care housing developments, and I have every confidence that together we will deliver a care village facility that the people of Hawick will be proud of."

Nile Istephan, Eildon Housing Association chief executive, added: “We welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues in Scottish Borders Council on the Stirches site to enhance the social care landscape of the locality.

"We are committed to rolling out the high quality, innovative extra care housing model which provides great options to our older population to live independently within a supported setting.

“There is real excitement that this experience can be further enhanced at Stirches as part of the wider care village concept, and we look forward to engaging with the community, other stakeholders and the wider health and social care community to progress these plans.”

Council members also agreed to the reprovisioning of Deanfield residential care home, upon completion of the care village.

The home will be decommissioned following a consultation with residents, family, carers and staff over the course of the project.

The aim of consultation is to ensure "a smooth transition to the new facility".

To consider the transfer of services from Deanfield to the new care village, as well as the development of social care and health services, the Integration Joint Board will meet on February 1.

Mr Parker added: "It is vital that we do all we can to make sure we deliver on our commitment to provide a model of residential care that has been designed specifically to better support the changing needs of older people in Teviot and Liddesdale, alongside providing high-quality care and support aimed at those with complex needs, frailty and dementia.

"I believe that the work completed so far, along with the next steps that have now been agreed, gives us the best chance of achieving these aims.

“I am conscious that the plans represent a significant change for residents, family carers and staff associated with Deanfield and would like to reassure them that they will be fully engaged and consulted with as the plans progress.

"Should they have any concerns, however, they shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch as we will more than happy to provide any additional information they might need.”

In September 2022, the council and the Integration Joint Board were given four options to consider.

The options included the refurbishment of Deanfield, partnership with a national private residential care provider, partnership with a national housing management and care company, and co-location of the new care village facility with Eildon Housing Association on the Stirches site.

Non-financial appraisals of all four options were completed to measure the suitability and feasibility based on stakeholder views.

The option to refurbish Deanfield was said to be "challenging" due to the upgrades required to bring it up to the standards set by the Care Inspectorate – particularly the need to meet dementia-friendly guidelines.

A private residential care provider withdrew their interest in the project, meaning this option was not taken forward in the appraisal process.

A suitable site could not be identified by the national housing management and care company.

After consideration of the option with Eildon, this was recommended to be taken forward.

Once completed, the full business case will be presented to the council and the Integration Joint Board for further approval.

For more information about the Hawick care village programme, visit: www.scotborders.gov.uk/carevillageprogramme.