New management for troubled Fairlands Home

Fairlands Home for the Aged in Cambridge, East London, is under new management.

Glynis de Kock voluntarily took up the role in April after seven board members, senior staff and auditors resigned earlier in 2020.

East London Senior Citizens Association (Elsca) interim chair Topper Whitehead said the home was now in recovery mode.

“A pro bono, independent forensic audit was commissioned on February 21, and it indicated gross mismanagement, failure of fiduciary duties and policy non-compliance and board oversee failures,” Whitehead said.

“When management walked out, they left us with a sick baby that needed life support.”

He said the home had been in the red to a tune of R4m.

“We’ve had to change bank signatories and we found that R2.3m was owed to creditors. There’s a further R2m that was not on the books, meaning fiduciary failure.”

De Kock said with 300 residents to look after, she knew there were big decisions to be made.

“When we got together, we hid nothing from the residents and they know exactly what was going on.

“We’re getting our ducks in a row, fixing what needs to be fixed, and have identified where the debt is.

“The expenditure has been changed and curtailed where necessary. We’re now looking to increase our income.”

De Kock praised her “fantastic” staff .

“No outstanding salaries are owed to them,” she said.

In April, the Dispatch reported that the Manor House retirement village (also under Elsca) was up for sale.

Whitehead explained: “It was not sold. The sales agreement was cancelled and Elsca is going to make it work. But [we] need occupancy to make it viable.

“It’s now at less than 50% [with about 60 spaces available],” Whitehead said.

Former Fairlands manager Billy Louis-Monto said it was sad to watch the home deteriorate before the turnaround.

“Luckily we have amazing people who have stuck together. We’re back on track with people who care in all respects. It’s been an uphill battle,” LouisMonto said.

De Kock and her team’s stringent measures have also made the village Covid-19 free.