Kintbury care home Notrees to close in December

Notrees Care Home in Kintbury is facing closure in December this year.

West Berkshire Council, which runs the home, says a combination of Covid burnout, competition from the NHS, reduced numbers of workers from the European Union and rising wages in other sectors, is making it harder to find and retain the necessary staff.

The council says residents and their families would be supported to relocate to one of its other care homes, or an alternative private service, as appropriate.

It also says wherever possible, it would redeploy existing staff to one of its remaining two care homes, reablement service or similar.

But West Berkshire Council isn't making a final decision until results of a feasability study and consultation on its future are known.

The district council currently manages three care homes in West Berkshire: Birchwood, Willows Edge, and Notrees.

When fully occupied they can provide nursing and residential care for 115 people over the age of 65, who have been assessed as requiring 24-hour care.

The homes employ approximately 140 permanent staff.

Currently, Notrees – which has capacity for 18 people – is caring for 10 and the council says it will cost around £400,000 to keep up to date.

It is commissioning a feasibility study to explore whether it would be better to build or to acquire a new facility and to help scope the proposed new home to best meet the anticipated needs of residents.

"Although we recognise that moving to another care home might be unsettling for some residents and their families, we believe that care home and adult social care staff will fully support and sensitively manage the move for individual residents and their families," said Paul Coe, West Berkshire's director of adult social care.

"We will work to understand each resident's priorities and preferences and will assist them and their families/carers to identify and secure an alternative, appropriate care placement.

"All of our other care homes currently have multiple vacancies, and residents would be offered a place in one of these, in the first instance. However, there is also good availability in privately-run care homes in the area at present, should residents and their families wish to consider an alternative move."