Jobs safe for one year as Auchinlee is spared
IN A last-minute £291,000 deal, Auchinlee care home has been saved until March 2018.
Auchinlee Action Group chairman John Titterton cautiously welcomed the news as he said that ultimately Auchinlee staff will be looking for work.
Mr Titterton said: ‘All relatives of patients are relieved but concerned about the staff’s longterm future.
‘We still have to keep an eye on the situation and will pursue a legal process to protect Kintyre dementia patients’ rights.’
Decision
The decision came, last Wednesday, at a Kilmory meeting of the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Integrated Joint Board (IJB), as they debated a £20 million gap in health and social care funding over the next two years.
Lorraine Paterson, head of adult services (west), said that the £291,000 could be funded either by a oneoff payment from Argyll and Bute Council or by adding it to the quality and finance plan for 201718, which would require savings in other services.
Transitional
It was announced that a transitional period, under a partnership between CrossReach, which runs the home on behalf of the Church of Scotland, and the IJB will allow a local alternative to be developed for the existing residents.
It was agreed that none of the existing residents should have their placements outside Kintyre.
The IJB agreed that it will try to protect the jobs and staff, acknowledging that there are difficulties in re- cruiting care staff in Kintyre.
Last November CrossReach threatened to close the home, citing six-figure losses per year until a reprieve in mid-December postponed the decision until March.
CrossReach chief executive Peter Bailey said: ‘We sincerely regret that it is not possible to continue Auchinlee as a care home beyond March 2018.’
Ms Paterson said a team would undertake
a full, up-to-date assessment of the needs of each resident.
The IJB report stated: ‘Where residents and their families would like to relocate to an alternative care home, this would be facilitated.
‘Any resident whose care needs can only be provided in a residential care home environment, and wished to stay in Kintyre, would be prioritised for any vacancies arising in Kintyre Care Home.
‘It would also develop a progressive care model within Lorne Campbell Court.’