£800k upgrade set after care home transfer complete
Around £800,000 will be spent upgrading a former council-run care home after a successful campaign to keep it open, its new operators have announced.
New Bradley Hall care home, in Kingswinford, is now being run by Black Country Housing Group.
Dudley Council said it could no longer afford to run the care home, which looks after 31 elderly residents, and allowed the housing group to step in.
The care home was originally earmarked for closure alongside two others - prompting a four year campaign, featuring a 5,000-strong petition and public meetings, to keep it open.
Campaigners today said although they had wanted the home to stay under council control they were pleased it had been safeguarded with an investment programme for the future.
Staff will transfer over from the council to Black Country Housing Group to safeguard jobs and the current residents will continue to live there.
Dudley councillor Dave Branwood, who is in charge of adult and community services in the borough, said he hopes the move will bring 'peace of mind' to residents and their families.
"The staff and residents at New Bradley Hall have been our priority throughout and we're delighted to be delivering a solution which keeps the home open, secures crucial new investment and protects jobs," he said.
"After years of uncertainty and against a backdrop of huge budget cuts it's a real success to transfer New Bradley Hall to a great organisation like Black Country Housing Group.
"This final piece of the jigsaw means that people who live and work there can look forward to peace of mind in a well-run financially secure care home."
Council officials say Black Country Housing Group already successfully delivers a range of care contracts for Dudley Council and operates three sheltered schemes across the borough.
The organisation has pledged to invest £800,000 into improving the home but have yet to outline what these will be.
Black Country Housing Group chief executive, Amanda Tomlinson, added: "With our strong track record of providing high quality domiciliary care to people in Dudley, aligned with our plans for major investment, we are well placed to operate a first class residential home which meets the needs of residents."
Campaigner Poppy Scott, who mother Irene Claridge, lives at the home said: "Overall I'm pleased about it. Having fought to keep it open, we wanted it to stay under council control.
"But when it became clear this wasn't going to happen, at least Black Country Housing are willing to put money into home."
