Quarriers looks at closing school and two homes

Social care charity, Quarriers, is consulting on the closure of two children’s homes and a school.

The charity said they were looking at shutting Seafield School in Ardrossan, Merton House in Largs and Williamfield children’s home in Irvine because of financial pressures.

Quarriers provide care and support for people with a disability, children and families, young people, young homeless people, people with epilepsy and carers.

There are 69 people currently employed across the three sites, and the charity said it would all be consulted on the proposals.

Chief executive Paul Moore said it was an “anxious time” for staff, pupils and residents.

He said demand for places at Seafield had decreased, with only 14 pupils currently enrolled in a school that had the capacity for 25, and it was no longer financially viable for the school to stay open.

The proposal has a knock on effect for Merton House and Williamfield, because they supported some pupils at the school.

Mr Moore said: “We do understand this will be an extremely anxious time for everyone associated with the school and the two children’s homes.

“We have made every effort to put Seafield on a more sustainable footing – including reconfiguring the provision. However, it has continued to lose money and is forecast to have a significant deficit over this financial year. As a charity, we are simply unable to continue absorbing such losses.

“As Merton House and Williamfield provide support for some children on residential placements who attend the school, this proposal also impacts on these services, and subsequently they are proposed to close as well.

“We are committed to ensuring all the children at the school and in the two children’s homes receive the highest quality care and support during this difficult time.

“If the decision is taken to close the services, then this would not happen until the end of the current academic year, and we would work closely with other providers and placing local authorities to ensure the children and young people were supported during their transition.

“All 69 members of staff at Seafield, Merton House and Williamfield will be consulted on the proposal and their responses will be carefully considered. Quarriers will also be consulting collectively with the trade unions as representatives of the staff potentially affected.  

“In the event the services do close, Quarriers has a policy of redeploying staff and every effort will be made to support those, that might be affected, to find other opportunities within the charity.”

North Ayrshire and Arran MP Katy Clark said the announcement was “devastating” and expressed fears over the loss of jobs and provision of support to young people.

She said: “ I hope a way can be found to persuade Quarriers to keep these facilities open. Staff have previously agreed to cuts in wages and other terms and conditions to keep their jobs and the facility open.”

She said she was “deeply troubled” that the announcement didn’t guarantee that staff could be redeployed to avoid job losses, or whether the children attending the facilities will be provided with suitable alternatives.

“Not only is there the very real prospect of significant numbers of job losses of people who live in the local community, but the support that the children who attend both Seafield and Merton House may not be replaced with a comparable service,” she said.

“The children who attend these facilities may have significant additional support needs, and the potential disruption could have a major impact on their well being and I cannot see how it is in their interests. I am talking to Quarriers urgently to explore what can be done.”

Quarriers was founded in the late 19th century by William Quarrier in Quarrier’s Village, near the Bridge of Weir in Inverclyde.