An arms-length company set up by Aberdeen City Council to deliver key social care services for older people has reported a positive performance for the year.
The annual report on Bon Accord Care, a local authority trading company, was discussed at a meeting of Full Council today (Thursday).
The company said it has made good progress in terms of quality and service, with an increase in positive feedback from users.
The year was also considered a success in business terms, with a recorded trading surplus of £47,000 for the year.
The financial position was described as a significant turn-around from the first eight months of trading, which reported a deficit of £384,000.
The document presented to Full Council reported on the financial year April 2014-March 2015 and operating performance from August 2014 to July 2015.
Bon Accord Care began operating on August 1, 2013, and delivers services for older people, rehabilitation and enablement on behalf of Aberdeen City Council, the sole shareholder in the company.
Sandra Ross, Managing Director of Bon Accord Care, said: “I feel proud of the team’s steadfast approach, over the past two years, in the sustained delivery of high quality services to the citizens of Aberdeen, as without them our success would not be possible.
“As a team we have seen significant change since inception and overcome some challenges, but the hard work and commitment remains constant as we look to the future and continue to place service users at the heart of everything we do.”
Bon Accord Care delivers more than 6,000 hours of personal care in the community every week. The company provides housing support to more than 2,000 individuals across the city and 24-hour residential, respite and rehabilitation care.
The support of individuals with equipment, telecare and community alarms increased to more than 18,000 per week, which also represents a significant impact on services across the city. All of the work is done by a current staffing pool of 886.
In an ongoing effort to enhance models of delivery and promote new ways of working, Bon Accord Care has reduced its reliance on agency staff by 50%.
There are 256 people employed within a “support pool”, which delivers services in excess of 1,200 hours per week. That equates to an estimated saving in staff costs of £200,000 in the past year.
Councillors unanimously agreed to approve the contents of the annual report. The City Council’s Social Care Spokesman, Councillor Len Ironside CBE, said: “It is good to see such a positive report on Bon Accord Care come before Full Council.
“The decision to establish the local authority trading company was made first and foremost with a view to improving the quality of care and the standard of service that is delivered. That remains the priority for Aberdeen City Council, but clearly we also welcome the strong financial performance over the past year.”