Two council dementia homes could become private

Two council-run dementia care homes in West Yorkshire could pass into private ownership after five operators made bids to buy them.

Castle Grange in Newsome and Claremont House in Heckmondwike have been facing financial difficulties and the original plan was to close them, said Kirklees Council.

The council is now looking to transfer the homes to the private sector by April 2025, which would save the local authority operating and maintenance costs, it said.

However, the residents' families are said to be "extremely concerned" as private operators would not be required to freeze the current fees.

The decision whether to transfer the two homes will be reached on 10 December by vote following a negotiation period and it is believed five different operators have made formal offers.

If the plan does not go ahead, the local authority said other options may be closing the homes or continuing under council control but with changes to staffing and an increase in fees for self-funding residents.

Additionally the council wants to sell the freehold at the time of the business transfer, which would generate income for the local authority.

Families impacted by the plans said they want to keep the homes council-run and speak highly of the services provided, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Under the councils plans, the existing 45 residents and staff would continue to live or work in the homes, with the council only considering providers who are interested in dementia care.

However, the new operator would not be required to maintain the current weekly fee in place for residents – a point of "extreme concern" raised during the consultation.

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