THE sudden closure of a Barnsley care home has left people desperately trying to find alternative places in other homes for their relatives.
Park Grange Care Home, on Neville Avenue, Kendray, has been run for the last 27 years by owner Roger Shipley, of Park Care Limited.
But yesterday he told the Chronicle he is retiring, and there is nobody to take over the running of the home.
There are about 20 residents living at Park Grange, and their families were informed of the home’s closure on Monday by social services.
Janice Elliott’s 94-year-old mother has been living at the home for two years. She has managed to find her a place at a care home in Dodworth, but said she was upset at the way things had been handled.
Janice, of Ward Green said: “We received a phone call at 2pm on Monday from social services saying the home was closing and the owner wanted us out as soon as possible.
“We’re talking frail, elderly people in their 80s and 90s, some of them are confused. We’ve been trying to find places for people without any time, we’ve had to make decisions quickly because we’ve not really had time to think. We should have been given time to think and get our heads around it.
“I’m so upset for everyone. When I was up there collecting my mum’s belongings everyone was crying. The staff are brilliant.
“None of the staff knew anything about it. I’ve not idea why the home is closing, I haven’t been told a reason. There have been no meetings, he hasn’t spoken to us.”
Janice said she was happy with her choice of new care home and thinks her mum will be happy there once she has settled in.
She said she got the call on Monday and had been left with four days to find her mother somewhere else to live. But Mr Shipley, the owner of the home, said no pressure had been put on people to move their relatives out.
He said: “We are saddened after 27 years of serving people in Barnsley but the pressure of managing the home was getting too great and we felt the only solution was closure.
“Our primary objective is managing the welfare of residents. There was no pressure on people to move - the local authority was very good in looking at where there were places and people chose to make the moves themselves and were assisted with this.
“There was no pressure. The local authority will confirm this, it has been very good in supporting us and the residents.
“We don’t take these things lightly.”
He said staff will remain on site until the end of the month, and social services had handled the moving of residents, as it funds the majority of people who live at the home.
“Social services wanted to be the people to handle these issues. The company would have happily handled these issues but social services put themselves in this position very quickly and has the experience. We give them full credit. We’re surprised it has been so smooth.”
Mr Shipley said he was also sad to lose the day care, which was part of the home’s operation, but that neighbouring Park Cottages, which provide accommodation for adults with learning disabilities, was a separate entity and would continue operating.
He said the closure was nothing to do with a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission, which inspects homes, hospitals and other care providers.
A CQC spokesman said: “The Care Quality Commission recently inspected Park Grange Care Home and found serious concerns. Whilst considering the appropriate enforcement action, the provider told the CQC they have decided to close the home. “Staff, residents and families have been told and the CQC is working closely with Barnsley Council to ensure the safety of people using these services.”
A report into the most recent inspection is yet to be published, but the home was rated as ‘requires improvement’ in June last year.
The council confirmed it had been helping people find alternative homes for their relatives.
Coun Margaret Bruff, cabinet spokesman for safeguarding, said: “The council is aware of the closure of Park Grange care home and our adult social care team is already working with residents, relatives and representatives to secure alternative accommodation for residents.”
