Council to take over care homes
CARE homes in Runcorn and Widnes are due to be transferred to Halton Borough Council after an agreement was struck with a charity to secure their long term future.
The local authority has worked with Community Integrated Care over St Luke’s in Runcorn and St Patrick’s in Widnes.
The two care homes have been run by the social care charity for more than 25 years.
However, a Halton Borough Council spokeswoman said the charity has provided a ‘significant subsidy’ in recent years to help with the homes’ operating costs and was a situation which ‘could not continue indefinitely’ with it being ‘important to both parties to find a successful resolution’.
By transferring the homes on Palacefields Avenue in Runcorn and Crow Wood Lane in Widnes to the council’s existing portfolio of social care services, the facilities
● will become ‘ more sustainable and viable for the future’.
The council spokeswoman added: “Together, we believe this proposed transfer is the best possible solution for residents, staff and loved ones. It is of enormous satisfaction that this collaborative approach will help safeguard the future of these services.”
Community Integrated Care and Halton Borough Council are currently consulting with everyone involved in the homes, as well as progressing the legal process around this transfer, and the two parties anticipate that this will be concluded in the autumn.
Cllr Tom McInerney, the council’s portfolio holder for children, education and social care, said: “Halton Borough Council is excited about the next stage in the development of St Patrick’s and St Luke’s and grateful to Community Integrated Care for all the work they have undertaken in supporting Halton residents in these homes over the past 25 years.
“Together we will ensure a smooth transition for the residents, families and staff and continue to provide them with care of the highest quality.
Mark Adams is the chief executive of Community Integrated Care.
He said: “With these being founding homes in our charity, this was naturally a very difficult decision to make. However, we’re really pleased to have been able to work with our partners at Halton Borough Council to find a way of keeping both services running, something that is in the best interests of the people who live and work there.
“Community Integrated Care was founded in Halton and retains its national head office here. We are absolutely committed to remaining as a major employer and care provider in the borough and are excited by our future in our local community for the years ahead. We would like to thank our colleagues in both homes for their continued dedication and commitment, as well as Halton Borough Council for their support with this matter.” ●