Bosses pull the plug on struggling care home

Ackworth House’s closure has brought with it substantial job losses, and upheaval for frail residents who have been scattered around the area in new homes.

The last resident moved out on Saturday after management made the decision to pull the plug on the seafront care home.

Bosses have refused to explain why they have closed, but North Yorkshire County Council says the home had been facing “significant” financial problems.

The closure comes month after the home was the subject of a damning report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

But a final report published yesterday found that owners the Bradney family were turning the home around – and that “considerable” improvements had been made.

“I just feel very sad for the residents of Ackworth House and sad at the fact that Filey no longer has a nursing home,” said Filey’s county councillor Sam Cross.

“I feel very sad for the workforce that no longer have a job and also for the Bradneys who have worked really hard building up the business over the years.”

The CQC says staff were given just two weeks’ notice that they were losing their jobs.

Employees and residents were told by the Bradneys on July 23 that the home was to close, with the watchdog informed at the start of August.

“We have been in close liaison with the local authority who facilitated the safe relocation of all residents to alternative placements,” said a CQC spokesperson.

The Mercury contacted both the home and boss Peter Bradney, but nobody would speak on record.

Sources close to the operators said that despite the criticism aimed at the home over the past 12 months, residents were “heartbroken” to be forced to move.

A county council spokesperson said it had recently been made aware that the home had major cash-flow difficulties.

“Whilst encouraging the home’s bankers to maintain the long-term viability of Ackworth House, the county council and the Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had to make contingency plans to find suitable accommodation for the home’s 19 residents.

“Once it became clear that the home would be closing, the county council and the CCG moved swiftly to talk with residents and their families and to find alternative permanent places for all residents.

“The county council and the CCG also ensured that there was sufficient staffing cover to meet the needs of residents until they moved from the home.

“Every effort was made to ensure residents were able to move home safely and with respect. The county council and the clinical commissioning group acknowledge that it is often difficult for someone to move from their home to another one, especially with short notice.

“Both agencies will continue to support residents to settle into their new homes.”

Filey has several residential homes, but Ackworth is understood to have been the only care home for people with physical or sensory 
impairment.