Closure-hit residents found new care homes

MORE THAN 70 care home residents have been successfully moved to new accommodation after two independent nursing homes closed down.

Moorlands Care Home in Strensall, York, announced it was shutting last September due to staffing issues and Amelia House in Rawcliffe declared it would also close.

City of York Council said it would work with both nursing homes following the news. A spokesman for the council has now confirmed that suitable accommodation has been found for all 78 people who had to move.

Gary Brittain, head of commissioning at the council, said: “We continue to support the care sector to recruit, develop and retain high quality staff alongside progressing our older peoples’ accommodation programme.”

A report prepared for a council meeting says finding new homes for these residents has cost £431,000 because the only available accommodation was more expensive than their previous nursing homes. But this cost has been offset in the department’s budget.

The report says: “Both homes cited recruitment difficulties as to the reasons behind decisions and both homes were in receipt of disappointing CQC ratings. The Adult Social Care commission team works closely with independent care home providers in the city to help improve quality and reduce the risk of home closures.”

It adds that the loss of the 149 beds at the two closed care homes has put pressure on capacity in the city and highlights the need to support new nursing home proposals.

However, an extra 300 beds are expected to be available in the next three years and more than 90 per cent of York’s care homes are currently rated good or outstanding by the CQC.