Care home staff have been praised by the leader of Northumberland County Council after one provider raised fears the industry in the county could collapse.
Last month Care North East (CNEN), which represents care home providers and care home associations across the region, has warned the industry is on the brink of collapse due to the actions of the council in recent years.
The organisation claims it has been trying to engage with the council so Northumberland can maintain high quality care services but has faced an uphill battle to get the authority to engage.
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The issue was raised at Wednesday's meeting of the county council by Labour councillor Mary Murphy, who asked for reassurance from council leader Glen Sanderson.
Coun Murphy said: "There have been alarming reports about the perilous state of care homes in Northumberland. A local care home provider warned the industry was on the brink of collapse due to the actions of Northumberland County Council in recent years.
"This is an alarming statement and will be causing untold anxiety for staff, residents and their families. The provider goes on to state that the council has refused to meet with them, refused to provide essential information with them, and is the only council in the region that have behaved in this way.
"They also claimed to have made a formal complaint of misfeasance to the council. Can the leader address these concerns and reassure us our homes are safe?"
Coun Sanderson replied: "I would pay tribute to our staff in this sector. We are in a very difficult position, not just here but across the country with huge issues around staffing - not just in care homes but for home care too.
"I want to reassure you that officers met care homes and have seen nothing to suggest it is on the brink of collapse. The biggest problem is they are struggling to recruit and retain staff.
"We have offered care providers higher fees to pay their staff more, and last month the cabinet agreed to further increase the fees to care providers to enable them to increase the mileage to carers."
However, when asked by Coun Murphy to provide reassurance that, if someone was considering placing a relative in a care home, the provider would not look to sell-up and close down the home, Coun Sanderson said it was a "hard question to answer".
He continued: "I would love to be able to give you that assurance. I'm not able to do that because I don't know what will happen next, but what I will assure you is I will be meeting staff to keep an eye and monitor the situation.
"If there is going to be a change or a problem area I will ask that all members are kept in the loop. I will be monitoring the situation very closely with key staff."
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