Shock over sudden closure of Wolverhampton care home
A care home with more than 50 residents is closing suddenly, giving families just four weeks to find alternative accommodation for their elderly relatives.
Privately owned Oxley Lodge in Wolverhampton, which was given notice to improve by the Care Quality Commission following a visit in November, will shut on June 9.
The city council said there was enough room at other care homes to accommodate the residents.
But a relative, who did not want to be identified, said: "I'm furious and worried sick. I don't know where my dad is going to live. He is happy and settled at the home and this is going to be a huge upheaval.
"The owner has recently spent a fortune doing up the drive round the back and it's clear now he was doing it up to sell, when we could have been given more notice."
CQC inspectors criticised the home, in Stafford Road, for failing to inform health chiefs when the registered manager moved on, leaving staff struggling to cope.
The watchdog said activities to stimulate residents had declined following the manager’s departure two months earlier as the activities co-ordinator had been assisting the deputy manager in the office with administration duties.
The home was judged ‘good’ in three of the five key inspection areas but was given an overall ‘requires improvement’ rating because of the failings caused by the absence of a registered boss.
Oxley Lodge, run by Aplin Care homes, provides care and accommodation for up to 58 people, with 51 in residence at the time of the visit.
A spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council said: "This week we were given notice by the owner of Oxley Lodge that he intends to close the care home on 9 June, 2017.
"We have instigated our Provider Failure process to oversee an orderly closure of the home, and will be working closely with staff, service users and their families to support them through this process.
"As there is sufficient capacity within the care sector, it will be possible to offer all residents alternative accommodation within Wolverhampton, and we will work closely with providers to identify suitable vacancies and enable residents to move as friendship groups where possible.
"I would like reassure the residents, their families and carers that the council will be working hard over the next few weeks to secure the best possible outcomes for all concerned, and also thank the dedicated and committed management team and staff at Oxley Lodge for their continued support at this difficult time."