Staff shortages have been cited as one of the reasons for the closure of a Callander residential care home with 18 residents.
Mauricare, operators of Ashlea House in Bracklinn Road, announced last week that a 13-week notice period has begun under its contract with Stirling Council under the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Health and Social Care Partnership.
Mauricare director Salim Boodhoo said the “difficult decision” had been made with “a heavy heart”.
He pointed out: “The current climate with skilled staff shortages, cost of living pressures, utilities and above all low occupancy especially in this rural area makes our operation extremely difficult if not impossible. This means that sadly we cannot keep Ashlea House open as a care home operating as it has been of late and continue to provide the standard of care that current and future residents have a right to expect and that we believe in as a care provider, at a time when social care funding has never been harder pressed.
“The local authority and our staff will help ensure residents are fully supported at every step including help with moving personal belongings and settling in.”
A Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, discussions around options to maintain operation of the home were unsuccessful.
“We will support residents on an individual basis to find a suitable new care home.
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“A full plan is being implemented to ensure we manage this transition smoothly and collaboratively with Mauricare and our other partners.”
Ashlea House had been ranked ‘weak’ for Covid support following an unannounced inspection in August 2021.
And the report pointed to “serious concern” over a lack of nurses.
Inspectors said: “Our focus in this inspection area was to establish if the staff team had the right competence, knowledge, and skills to support people in relation to Covid-19.
“We concluded that the service was performing at a weak level with some important priority areas to improve.”
During the inspection, watchdogs spoke with 13 of the 18 residents in the home, seven of whom were willing to express their views. They also spoke to one relative.
When it came to how well the home supported people’s wellbeing, the inspectors said: “We concluded, that this was weak with some important priority areas to improve.”
But they added: “Staff treated people with compassion, dignity and respect. There were kind and warm interactions from staff with the residents they were supporting.
“Residents spoke highly of the staff and how friendly they were.”
At a previous inspection, April 2021, inspectors raised concern that there was not always a qualified nurse in the building.
A spokesperson for Ashlea House said in August 2021: “The recent report confirms the progress made by Ashlea House and also highlights the ongoing challenges small care homes face in rural areas especially in the unprecedented time we live.
“Our search for qualified nurses and staff continues whilst working closely with the regulator, health partnership and all supporting professionals. We are thankful to our staff, relatives and our service users whose welfare remain our priority.”
