A CHARITY which has provided specialist care for more than 30 years has announced it is to close one of its care homes due to financial challenges – affecting up to 17 residents.

Staff at Kirkdale in Thornaby are being consulted about the closure with up to 43 roles at risk of redundancy at the Cleveland Alzheimer’s Residential Centre (Clevearc) run home.

Additionally, four roles associated with the charities Day Centre in Guisborough are also at risk of redundancy.

 

Specialist care home Kirkdale in Thornaby Picture: GOOGLE

Alan Kitching, chairman of the charity's board of trustees, said: “As a small, local charity, we are providing care services at a time of very challenging national and local economic circumstances which are only set to become more challenging. Meanwhile, the costs of providing services which meet the very complex needs of our client group continue to increase.

“Changes in approach to care mean there is not the same demand for places and services such as ours as there was in the past and due to our size, we have very limited reserves. Because of these economic challenges, we now have to make the toughest decisions that have ever faced Clevearc.

“The very hard fact is there is not enough money available for Clevearc to run as it has done. We have had to consider the closure of some parts of, and possibly the whole, charity. These are not considerations we have taken lightly and we have looked at many different options.

“With huge regret and sadness, we have told staff and families this week that because of the ongoing financial struggles we face and will continue to face if no changes are made, we have to propose the closure of Kirkdale.

“The proposal is to close Kirkdale rather than its sister home Allison House because there are simply fewer residents there who will need to move if the service was to close.

“With the heaviest of hearts, we have had to let our dedicated and loyal staff team at Kirkdale know that their roles are at risk of redundancy and have begun a period of consultation with them. At the end of this consultation we will have to make a final decision about Kirkdale and its future.

“We are genuinely distressed to have to give this devastating news and very sorry also that while there is never a good time, the months before Christmas are particularly difficult.

“We have also contacted all families by telephone and letter to inform them of the news and offer individual appointments with ourselves and our colleagues at Stockton Borough Council to consider what options are available for them and their loved ones. We know this will be a very worrying time for them and for that we sincerely apologise.

“Our priority at Clevearc has always been to provide the very best care and support we can for those in our area living with dementia. We are extremely saddened that the closure of Kirkdale is being proposed and will do all we can to minimise upset for all those potentially affected.”