Former Southern Cross care home to close

An Oxfordshire care home formerly run by Southern Cross, is to close after its new owner said it is ‘not fit for purpose’.

The Crown Care Home in Harwell will close within the next three months, according to Four Seasons, who took it over after the collapse of Southern Cross last year.

The care home provider has pledged not to close the home until all of its residents have been found alternative accommodation.

A spokeswoman for Four Seasons Health Care said: ‘Managers at The Crown Care Home have met residents and their relatives to inform them that Four Seasons Health Care intends to cease operating the home in the future.'

'The home is a former converted public house and we consider the premises are just not fit for purpose as a modern care home.'

'We will not cease to operate the home until suitable arrangements are made for the ongoing care of all residents. This may take about three months.’

There are currently seven residents at the home looked after by 20 staff.

Staff have been given the opportunity to transfer to other Four Seasons Health Care homes.

However GMB, the union for staff at Four Seasons, is concerned that the closure of the home in Oxfordshire is ‘the thin end of the wedge’.

Justin Bowden GMB national officer for care homes said ‘Residents and staff at Four Seasons have good grounds to worry that this closure in Oxfordshire is the thin edge of the wedge.'

'GMB members at Four Seasons are entitled to ask if it is linked to the £780m debt mountain due to be repaid in September.’

He added: ‘The residents and care staff at the Crown have already been through it. They were transferred from Southern Cross to Four Seasons on 31t October 2011 after nearly six months of uncertainly and anxiety as to their future. It seems residents have less rights than squatters.'

Four Seasons rebutted GMB's comments calling it 'mischievous nonsense to suggest the closure is for any other reason than the one we have given'.

Pete Calveley, chief executive of Four Seasons is pictured