Future Care
Latest updates
10 November 2025: Decision to cease services at New Tyne care home in Worthing "called-in" by councillors
29 October 2025: Decision confirmed to cease services at New Tyne residential care home in Worthing
11 September 2025: Proposals for the future of a council-run residential care home in Worthing to be scrutinised
Future Care
West Sussex County Council’s Future Care programme aims to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality, sustainable adult social care services now and in the future.
The programme supports the priorities in Our Council Plan and the Adult Social Care Strategy, and how we respond to the challenges of:
- A growing and ageing population
- Increasingly complex care needs
- Rising costs of delivering care
- The need to modernise services
What’s in scope?
The programme is reviewing all residential care services for adults that are provided by the county council.
The council runs six residential homes. New Tyne in Worthing cares for older people with dementia, while five others across the county support people with learning disabilities.
In total, the homes currently support around 130 people with social care needs, who are looked after by a workforce of around 227 people.
The review is looking at:
- The condition and suitability of our buildings
- The cost of running services compared to alternatives
- The availability of good quality care in the independent sector
- The needs and preferences of current and future residents
Decision and Governance
On 29 October 2025, the Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services, Councillor Amanda Jupp, confirmed the decision to cease services at New Tyne in Worthing, following scrutiny by the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, and an opportunity for staff, UNISON and residents’ families to have their views represented.
Why was the decision made?
There are three main reasons for this decision:
- How care is provided: New Tyne care home is the only care home for older people providing a dementia care service directly operated by the Council. All other homes are run by independent providers commissioned by the Council to deliver care.
- Capacity in alternative homes: There are sufficient beds available in the wider commissioned market to meet both current and future needs.
- Cost and sustainability: Operating a single care home for older people living with dementia is significantly more expensive than commissioning care from the wider market. The building also requires investment over the next decade.
How did the county council seek views on the proposal?
We did not run a public consultation because the review identified no viable alternative option that would deliver sustainable, high-quality care within available resources. Instead, we provided a period for representations from residents, families, staff, UNISON and councillors before the decision was taken.
Decision and call in period
Following a Cabinet Member decision on Wednesday 29 October to cease services at New Tyne care home, a call-in request has been submitted by West Sussex County Council councillors. This request has been accepted on the grounds that the feedback from the period of representation and engagement is significant new information that wasn’t available when the decision was reviewed by the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee (HASC) in September The decision will now be reviewed again by HASC at its meeting on Friday 21 November. The meeting will be available to watch via webcast on the county council’s website.
At the meeting, HASC members will consider the published decision report, the reasons for the call-in, and the outcomes sought. It will also review the petition on New Tyne submitted by UNISON, which gained enough signatures to meet the threshold for consideration by a committee. If the committee supports the original decision, the decision will come into effect from the end of the meeting and implementation will begin from Monday 24 November. If the committee recommends changes to the decision or withdrawal, these will be considered by the Cabinet Member, whose subsequent decision will be final.
We understand this period of uncertainty is difficult for all concerned and our priority, whilst ensuring that all democratic processes are followed, is to continue to support the residents and staff impacted by this decision.
Can I have a say?
The pre decision representation period for residents, families, UNISON and staff has now closed. Members of the public who wish to raise concerns can contact their local councillor.
Future Care next steps
Subject to a further meeting of HASC we will publish the next steps and timeline for supporting residents and staff, and we will continue to update this page as the programme progresses.
How is the council supporting residents?
We will support each of the 11 residents to move to a suitable alternative home. Our social work teams will work with each resident, their family and advocates to identify appropriate alternative care. Independent advocacy will be provided where needed.
How is the council supporting staff?
We will support our staff at the New Tyne care home, to explore alternative employment opportunities. Where redundancy is the outcome, appropriate support will be provided.