Church of Scotland to close rehab unit

A rehabilitation unit for people with problems including addiction and eating disorders is to be the latest casualty of cuts by the Church of Scotland’s social care council.

The 14-bed Ronachan House has offered a safe haven in Clachan, near Tarbert, Argyll, for people with social problems, but the Kirk said yesterday it is to close in September with the loss of 11 jobs.

CrossReach, the Church’s social care arm, said it is no longer viable to continue funding the home.

Calum Murray, director of Adult Care Services, said: “There have been insufficient occupancy levels at Ronachan House for some time now and the use of a private referring agency has not, regretfully, yielded the required number of referrals.

“Commissioners (such as local authorities), under their own financial structures, are commissioning ‘community rehabilitation’, rather than residential, due to its perceived value.

“It must be recognised that residential rehabilitation services, of the scale provided in rural areas, is both no longer required, nor the current type of provision of choice.”

The Herald revealed earlier that the Kirk’s social care arm faces a £3.6 million deficit this year.

The shortfall comes despite the Church shedding 18 jobs, saving £300,000 in its central services department at Charis House in Edinburgh.

CrossReach employs 2000 across the country with 80 services involving children and families, old people and those with mental health problems.

It has an annual expenditure of £45m.