Expanding care home firm’s staff to double

The Government’s policy of increasing the level of home care for elderly people is helping a Shipley-based care group to expand.

The Czajka Care Group is expecting to double the number of staff in its home care division to around 300 in the next few months as it tenders for contracts in North Yorkshire, Calderdale and Kirklees.

It has concluded a £500,000 funding deal through Barclays Commercial bank that will help finance its expansion plans.

The group, established in 1983, operates in Shipley, Bradford and Leeds providing residential and nursing care for older people, specialist care and rehabilitation for young adults with disabilities and community care for the elderly in their own homes.

It also runs shared-equity retirement houses and apartments for the over-55s and social facilities at Fairmount Park in Nab Wood, Shipley. It has similar facilities at Currergate Mews in Steeton, where 14 new homes have just been completed opposite its care home.

Managing director Konrad Czajka said: “The new funding and refinancing of our capital structure will provide us with an excellent foundation for future growth in each of the three areas we operate, particularly the domiciliary care.

“The Government are keen for older people to remain in their own homes for longer and community care provides people with more independence, comfort and choice to remain in familiar surroundings “We currently employ around 150 people in our home care division but I would expect this to double as we tender for new contracts and expand our areas of operation.”

The new funding has also helped the group to develop a purpose built annexe providing specialist care and rehabilitation for young adults with disabilities including, multiple sclerosis and brain injuries.

The finance deal involved local advice from Cleckheaton-based accountants Clough and Co and Bradford law firm Gordons.

Russell Briggs, Barclays’ commercial relationship director for West Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted to support Konrad and his family with this transaction which demonstrates Barclays are open for business and committed to the West Yorkshire market.

“The Czajka Group is at the forefront of nursing and residential care within Yorkshire and I look forward to seeing the company go from strength to strength in the future.”

David Pridmore, commercial property partner at Gordons, led the firm’s team on the deal.

He said: “This was a complicated transaction, but one which we were able to manage efficiently and effectively thanks to our understanding of the sector in which the group operates.

“We worked closely with other local professional advisors and the group’s bankers to ensure that we maintained the momentum of the deal and delivered a robust solution. We are delighted to have laid the foundations for further growth and have every confidence that the Czajka Group will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”