Specialist Estates Services team celebrate win at inaugural Ystadau Cymru Awards
Congratulations to the Specialist Estates Services’ (SES) Property team who were recently announced winners in the ‘Delivering More Integrated Services’ category at the inaugural Ystadau Cymru Awards.
The Ystadau Cymru Awards celebrate excellence and best practice in active management of the Welsh public sector estate through strategic collaboration and good practice guidance.
In winning the award SES were cited as ‘an excellent example of collaboration between a number of partners to achieve a sustainable community centred health and well-being facility and affordable housing for the Aberaeron Integrated Care Centre project.’
The judging panel noted there were a number of strong contenders for this category, but were ‘mindful of the complexity of this case, including the repurposing of a former office building and hospital to meet multiple local needs in a rural area of west Wales. There was good use of policy through engagement with the Land Transfer Protocol and the NHS Affordable Housing Protocol which maximised the benefits from the surplus assets released from the new development of the Integrated Care Centre.’
SES worked in partnership Hywel Dda University Health Board in the delivery of the new Aberaeron Integrated Care Centre which brought together services provided by Tanyfron GP Practice, clinical services and support staff from Aberaeron Hospital, office staff from Felinfach, community nursing services, the third sector, Council staff, Public Health officers from Tregaron and Local Authority Social Services and Porth Gofal Mental Health staff.
SES provided advice and support throughout the process to the Health Board dealing with the acquisition of Minaeron, providing design and specification guidance and lease advice for the redeveloped Integrated Care Centre as well as dealing with the disposal of the vacated Aberaeron Hospital building.
The acquisition of Minaeron, a 1970s former office building from Ceredigion County Council was progressed under the Land Transfer Protocol, Welsh Government’s best practice guidance for the transfer or disposal of property assets between public bodies in Wales.
The disposal of the vacated Aberaeron Hospital, a former workhouse built in 1838 and located within the Aberaeron Conservation Area, was flagged as available on the ePIMS database and offered to the Local Authority and local RSLs under the NHS Affordable Housing Protocol. It was acquired by Wales & West Housing Association for redevelopment as affordable housing.
Clive Ball, Head of Property, Specialist Estates Services said; “I am immensely proud of the hard work of the team throughout this complex project which is an exemplar example of partnership working enabling the delivery of an Integrated Care Centre which brings joined-up health and social care to local communities for the first time and transforms health and social care in rural west Wales.”
Neil Davies. Director of Specialist Estates Services; “This project provides an excellent example of active management of the Welsh public sector estate through strategic collaboration with partners and the use of good practice guidance. I am proud of the work the SES Property team has undertaken to deliver this project”.