Expressions of interest sought for contract to build new care home in Kirkwall

Orkney Islands Council is inviting suitably qualified contractors to register an expression of interest in the contract to build a new 40-bed care facility in Kirkwall to replace St Rognvald House.

Contractors are required to complete a Single Procurement Document (Scotland) which allows contractors to indicate whether their organisation meets the requirements for the procurement exercise.

The Council agreed to fund the cost of the £12.27 million project last year, with the Integration Joint Board – made up of members of NHS Orkney and OIC – agreeing the care model to be taken forward.

The project will see a single storey structure built at Soulisquoy in Kirkwall made up of four wings and include en-suite bathrooms with the flexibility to add two 10 en-suite room accommodation wings in future.

The aim of the project is to replace the ageing care home of St Rognvald’s with a new modern care facility to provide high dependency care for the elderly in Kirkwall and surrounding areas. The new accommodation will be built to the highest standards to meet the requirements of legislation and the Care Inspectorate to cater for a high degree of physical frailty and Dementia.

Orkney Health and Care (OHAC) Chief Officer, Stephen Brown, said: “The age of St Rognvald House means that the design of care homes has developed over time, and the smaller rooms and a lack of en-suite facilities are not optimal in supporting people with complex needs.
“The new Kirkwall care facility will bring much improved care for its residents as well as playing an important role in a flexible model of care in Orkney that meets the different needs of our elderly population.

“Clinicians and professionals called for flexibility within the system and that, in planning a new care home, it should be part of an overall system of care including supported housing in due course.

“Our aim with the new facility is that as older people’s care needs fluctuate, those needs can be met with care provision flexing up or down within the overall system, with an emphasis on ‘Home First’ – and people’s own desire to remain cared for within their own homes when at all possible. However, we also have a duty to provide first-class care when remaining at home is no longer a safe option. The new facility will allow us to provide this.”

Chair of the OHAC Committee and vice-chair of the Integration Joint Board, Councillor Rachael King, said: “Seeking suitability qualified contractors to build a new care facility in Kirkwall is another exciting step forward for the Integration Joint Board and, more importantly, the people of Orkney who will benefit from what will be a fantastic replacement care facility for St Rognvald House.

“We have reached this stage now thanks to the joined up working of all involved, from people who use these services, carers to professionals across health and social care and third sector colleagues. This provides an assurance that to the best of this community’s abilities we have considered not just the needs of those in care but also the needs of professionals to allow the evolving services they provide to be delivered in a way that respects the rights and aspirations of those receiving their care and support.”

The deadline for completing the SPD (Scotland) is 23 June 2021 with tender documents due to be issued in September. The notice can be viewed on the Public Contracts Scotland website

A diagram showing various elevations of the new care home is available in PDF format below.