Future of empty Sandwell care home to be decided after special measures ruling

Trinity House Care Centre in Old Hill, Cradley Heath, closed last year after successive ‘inadequate’ ratings from inspectors but could re-open as supported living flats if the plans are supported by Sandwell Council’s planning committee.

New plans by Amjad Mahmood would see the former 33-bed care home in Mace Street converted into 14 supported living flats. 

Sandwell Council’s planning officers have recommended the application is approved when the authority’s planning committee meets on January 8.

A report outlining the recommendations said: “The reuse of this former care home as 14 flats for supported living would be acceptable in this predominantly residential area with no demonstrable detriment to the surrounding area, subject to appropriately worded conditions.”

Five objections were made against the plan with ward councillor John Tipper requesting for the application to be discussed by the council’s planning committee rather than decided by officers.

Two previous plans to convert the building into assisted living flats were withdrawn at the end of 2023. These came after a plan to convert the former care home into a 34-bed HMO was also withdrawn a few months earlier. 

According to the application, the flats would be run by Rehability UK, the same company in charge of the care home when it closed. Rehability said the closure was a “business decision” and was not because of the inadequate rating.

The care home closed its doors last year after twice receiving the lowest grade from the Care Quality Commission – the body responsible for inspecting care homes. 

The watchdog slapped the care home with the worst possible rating after finding that CCTV cameras had been installed in the building without consent from vulnerable residents or their loved ones.

The care home was rapped in 2022 for not providing enough activities for residents and for leaving a broken television in the care home’s only remaining communal space.

The care home’s garden was also left in a “hazardous” state of disrepair. Safeguarding concerns were also raised with Sandwell Council. 

The care home was inspected following allegations of physical and financial abuse from whistleblowers which led to the Mace Street care home being placed in special measures.