Two dementia care homes run by Kirklees Council look set to be privatised against the wishes of residents and their families.

The council is pressing ahead with plans to sell Castle Grange in Newsome and Claremont House in Heckmondwike as ‘going concerns.’

The council has already given approval for talks to take place with private sector operators who want to take over the homes, along with the staff.

Talks have proved positive for the council with five companies interested in acquiring both homes. No details have been made public for commercial confidentiality reasons.

A report to the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday December 10 seeks approval for council officers to enter detailed negotiations, evaluating the bids on “price and quality.”

The report says the homes lose more than £800,000 a year – or up to £1.8 million a year if overheads and depreciation are included – and both homes will need substantial investment in repairs and maintenance in the next few years.

The staff at both homes would transfer to the new owner and the buildings would also be part of any deal.

The report adds: “Operators have been made aware of the weekly fee currently charged to self-funding residents but have not been required to maintain these charges.”

 

 

The families of current residents have already fought off closure plans for the homes and thought they would remain under council management for the forseeable future.

However, the council’s continuing financial difficulties mean savings still have to be made and a sale or transfer is the council’s first choice option.

The report says that the “quality” of the bidders’ proposals will be more important than the price they offer, and it’s far from certain that a deal will be completed.

If no sale is agreed, the council says it would have two options – closure of the homes and sale of the buildings; or continue running the homes but with staffing cuts and increased fees for self-funding residents. Even then it would be “almost impossible” to break even.

A six-week period of public consultation with families of the 45 residents has just concluded. The council says families will not be part of the process of selecting a new operator “but their concerns about quality and experience will be reflected in the decision-making process.”

The council wants to complete the full transfer by April 2025.

 

 

Clr Beverley Addy (above), Cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “We ran a six-week engagement process with families so they could have an opportunity to share any concerns about our proposals through dedicated, one-to-one meetings. I also met with relatives of those living in the care homes to hear their concerns face to face.

“As part of the engagement conversations, families have been reassured that we are only speaking with providers who would like to continue operating both sites as dementia care homes if they were successful in taking over the running of the sites.

“This will allow continuity of care for residents as they will not be required to move elsewhere which is what families were most concerned about.

“Withdrawing from dementia residential care would mean the council could focus direct care delivery in parts of the market where there are fewer providers and options for people.

“This would mean making the best use of the care home bed capacity across Kirklees and therefore supporting the council’s aim to enable people to remain independent at home for as long as possible.

“Like other councils across the country, we are faced with increasing demands for adult social care meaning we must look at how we can make the best of the limited resources available to us.”

Hello, my name is Janet. I have Alzheimer’s disease and I’m scared what will happen to me if Kirklees Council sell my home