By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Six people are being moved out of an Eastwood care home run by Nottinghamshire County Council after the authority decided to close it down rather than pay a £850,000 repair bill.
Risk assessments of Church Street Care Home, in Church Street, have found it requires “significant internal remodelling” which could cost the huge sum to fix.
Problems include bedrooms not complying with minimum space standards and some bathrooms being too small for moving and handling.
Some bedroom fixtures were also found to be unsuitable for wheelchair users, while there was “limited” wheelchair storage and an absence of some specialist equipment for complex needs.
The authority says work would take between 22 and 39 weeks to complete, leading to “significant upheaval” for the home’s six residents.
It deemed the repairs were not an “option in the best interests” of its residents and instead began exploring options to close it.
A report confirms consultations with staff and families found people “value the service” it provides.
Staff were praised for how they support residents at the home, which is currently graded ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.
The site offers tailored one-to-one and 24-hour care to adults aged 18 to 65 with learning disabilities.
A council flier says it works with each resident to find out how they can “live their life in a safe and fulfilling way”.
Many people, including residents’ families, “expressed sadness” at the closure plans. However, the authority says several families “understood the reasons why” it was needed.
Five of the six residents have lived in the home for more than 12 years, including two since it opened in 1993.
Concerns included disruption to relatives’ care and the potential loss of close relationships they had developed.
But the authority said: “Particular attention… would be needed to maintain these relationships.”
Reviews of all residents found one person would be better cared for in supported living accommodation.
The remaining five residents will also be given alternative placements.
This could include 17 care services currently reporting vacancies within five miles of the home, or 21 supported living vacancies across 18 Broxtowe sites.
However, the council says “further work will be required” to ensure these settings meet the individual needs of Church Street’s residents.
“There are opportunities to support residents at Church Street in alternative provision that would provide them with a better standard of accommodation,” Ainsley Macdonnell, a council service director, added in the report.
“[This could] develop their rights and independence in a supported living setting while continuing to live in an area they are familiar with and maintaining existing relationships.”
The closure could mean staff working at the home are either redeployed or made redundant, the authority added.
The plans were approved during a delegated decision by Cllr Matt Barney (Con), cabinet member for adult social care, last week.
