Residents lose home and staff face redundancy as 'invest in rooms' care home shuts down

27 residents must move out of their care home by 15 October while 50 workers face losing their jobs, after the Northern Ireland setting was forced to close because of concerns about an ‘invest in rooms’ scheme.

The Court Care Home in Ballymoney, County Antrim has been ordered to close by the Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), because of its concerns about the ‘financial viability’ of the 40-room setting.

In its notice of closure, the care regulator said it had been made aware of a ‘scheme known as invest in rooms’.

The RQIA stated: ‘An internet search verified that rooms in the home were being offered to individual investors.

‘Further, from a review of land registry records it is apparent that individual leases have been granted in respect of various rooms to these investors.’

BBC News NI has reported seeing online adverts for the care home's rooms being offered as buy-to-let investments for between £71,950 and £75,000 each. An online brochure offered buyers a 10 per cent rental income every year for 25 years.

The RQIA gave notice last month of its decision to deregister the provider’s license over financial concerns.

The funding model is not illegal and in its notice of closure, the RQIA said issues existed around the home’s ownership. It said the current registered provider the Model Group NI, had not been in control since January 2021.

A spokesperson for the Model Group said they were continuing with the provision of care in The Court Care Home on a transitional basis while the Court Care Home (Ireland) Ltd applied to be registered.

"The RQIA recognise that the Model Group NI are not the owners of, nor in financial control of, The Court Care Home and are therefore not in a position to continue to operate the home".

GMB: ‘Shameful example of crisis in care’

The care home supports people aged 65+, residents with physical disabilities and those with dementia.

The care home's closure has been described by Denise Walker from the GMB union as “a shameful example" of a crisis in care.

The union has called for Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann to intervene to protect the rights of the affected staff, and to bring forward the promised public consultation for the reform of social care in Northern Ireland.

GMB senior organiser Denise Walker said: “This is a shameful example of what the crisis in care looks like and we need radical change to rebuild a broken system where profits are prioritised over human need.

“Vulnerable residents are being uprooted and dedicated key workers face uncertain futures.

“It also underlines how poorly the care workforce are valued by employers and the state, strengthening GMB’s argument for a £15 an hour care minimum to boost pay and rights.”