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Specialist adult care homes in Cornwall closing

BBC Clinton LodgeBBC
Clinton Lodge has five bedrooms and is among the care homes closing in April

A number of care homes for adults with autism and learning disabilities in Cornwall are being closed down.

The company Achieve Together said it was "regrettably" ending its care contracts for four homes in Redruth, Camborne and Liskeard.

Cornwall Council and NHS Cornwall said they were "working together to support residents, their families and staff affected".

The family of one resident said it was "traumatic for all those concerned".

In total the facilities have space for about 40 residents.

The homes are Highdowns near Camborne and Pendean Court in Liskeard, along with Clinton Lodge and Acorn Park Lodge in Redruth.

Achieve Together, which runs and owns the facilities, said: "Despite working with our colleagues at Cornwall Council over a number of months we have been unsuccessful in securing the fee levels required to ensure the sustainability of these homes.

"Regrettably, this has led to the decision to hand back the care and support contracts."

Sign
The homes were also available to residents who had other complex needs and challenging behaviours, mental health challenges, or were deaf or blind

The council said it was "working to identify an alternative provider where there is a stronger alignment around our values".

It added: "We trust that Achieve Together will be flexible in allowing residents to continue to live in their homes whilst alternative arrangements are being made."

It also said "the majority" of the company's care homes in Cornwall had latest CQC inspection ratings of 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate'.

It said the company had "taken the decision to prioritise other services across their national portfolio, as they did a few years ago when they closed their supported living services in Cornwall".

The family members of residents have been written to by Achieve Together, saying the date of closure is 25 April.

Jackie Barson
Jackie Barson said she was worried about the impact on her sister, who has lived at Highdowns for 10 years

Jackie Barson's sister, who is mentally disabled and blind, has been a resident at Highdowns, receiving 24-hour care for more than 10 years.

She said: "She is very happy there - she loves it. She feels safe and trusts the staff.

"She has thrived there since moving there in 2014.

"This has come as an enormous blow and is traumatic for all those concerned."

Ms Barson received a phone call on Friday, and said she was "totally devastated, very anxious, and very concerned for my sister's wellbeing".

"If she has to move somewhere else it will be an enormous upheaval and she is frightened. She said to me on Sunday 'I am going to be out on the street', and that is very upsetting to hear that."

Liz Ward
Liz Ward was told last week her brother's care home would be closing

Liz Ward's brother has cerebral palsy and is a resident of Clinton Lodge where she said he has been "really happy".

She said: "The staff there are very upset - they are one big family and they don't want to see them go. And obviously they don't want to lose their jobs so it is very difficult for everyone.

"I don't know where he is going to go. The council say they will find somewhere, but where? Where are these places?"

"He is upset about it. He doesn't want to go, and doesn't want to change.

"He likes where he lives - it is is home, and the carers are his family... it is all going to be really difficult for him."

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