Express & Star

New Sandwell care home will create 100 jobs

A care home which will create 100 jobs and help ease pressures on hospitals is poised to be given the go-ahead.

Published
An artist's impression of the proposed care home

The proposed Sandwell Integrated Social Care and Health Centre, off Harvest Road and Dudhill Road in Rowley Regis, would employ 75 full-time and 25 part-time staff.

Bosses say the home, if approved, would support hospital discharges from Sandwell Hospital, City Hospital and Russells Hall Hospital and out of borough hospitals for older people who live in the Sandwell area. A second facility could be built in the borough in the future.

The new facility would be built on land which previously housed a residential care home called Knowle House, before it was demolished a number of years ago and the site has remained vacant since.

A design and access statement, submitted with the plans, states: “To provide a bed-based model 24 hour a day, seven days a week to support hospital discharges from Sandwell, City, Russell’s Hall and out of borough hospitals for older people who are Sandwell residents.

"The service will provide a step-up option to avoid hospital admission and stabilise customers for a timely discharge back home.

“The service will also be a step-down bed option for customers, ensuring wrap around support is available from support services.

“Commissioners are proposing an 80-bed bed-based option on the Knowle site, with a possible second facility on a Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital Trust site (Leasowes).”

Rowley ward Councillor Chris Tranter said he welcomed the plans for the facility and said the planning committee should back it next week.

Councillor Rowley added: "It will be a great facility and it is sorely needed for the more senior of us who live in the area of Rowley Regis.

"I welcome the plans and believe that it should definitely be backed at planning committee next week."

Sandwell Council's planning committee have been recommended to approve the scheme at their next meeting on Wednesday.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.