Axe to fall on Halesowen care home

TWENTY-eight elderly people will be forced to move when a residential care home in Halesowen is shut down in January. Shenstone care home is being closed by Dudley Council as part of its policy of helping to live more independently at half the cost.

A Dudley council report revealed the weekly cost per client at Shenstone is around £677 per week at 95 per cent occupancy, compared to the average external residential care cost of £372 per week.

The residents will be rehomed during the next six months and 12 short stay/respite beds will continue to be available in the run up to the closure.

Council bosses said it was on target to place a majority of the 51 staff in alternative posts, while six employees have opted to take voluntary redundancy.

But the decision was slammed by Unison branch secretary Steve Beardsmore as “another nail in the coffin of public services.”

He said: “A lot of money has been spent by the council on improving the quality of our care homes with physical improvements and in training staff to a higher level. You cannot redeploy people into an ever decreasing workforce. They will end up being made redundant.

“Shenstone is home to a lot of people who need a high level of care – I fear for them.”

Councillor Lesley Faulkner, cabinet member for adult and community services, said the council had many support services in place to help people maintain the health and independence of elderly people in the borough.

“This transformation of social care is something we have been working on for many years and it means a move away from what many would consider the traditional residential type care services.

“Although there is rationale behind the changes taking place, the council understands that staff and residents at Shenstone will feel concerned about the announcements this week.

“The council’s first priority will be to work with residents and their families as well as staff to ensure they are fully engaged during the consultation and to make sure moves to alternative suitable accommodation are as seamless as possible.”

The saved operating costs from the Kent Street building will be used to purchase placements in other care homes and could contribute towards the five extra care housing developments which are to be created in each township around the borough by 2015.

No decision has been made on the future of the building.