WOKINGHAM Borough Council has bought a care home, which will be operated by its social care provider Optalis with a view to providing affordable dementia nurse care.
The Berkshire Care Home on Barkham Road was run by Four Seasons Health Care, and staff can be transferred over to Optalis under TUPE legislation.
The council is promising to work with residents and families of the 50-bed home to keep them informed and ensure a smooth transition.
It is hoped the process, which includes re-registering with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be completed by October.
The purchase, the council says, will help it meet the growing demand for dementia care over the next decade, and will allow vulnerable residents to remain in the area.
Cllr David Hare, executive member for adult services on the council, said the purchase was “great news”, adding that it is a priority to support vulnerable people.
“If the borough council hadn’t started this process, it was possible that the care home could have been sold to private buyers, which could potentially have reduced the number of affordable beds available locally to the council,” he said.
“By running our own care homes in partnership with our social care company, Optalis, we can help meet the demand for care as well as reduce our own costs by providing local homes for local people and ensure they still receive high quality care.
“We desperately need more specialist care in our borough as the number of people needing this type of support is increasing at a fast rate.”
David Birch, chief executive of Optalis, said: “Optalis is proud to be supporting Wokingham Borough Council’s purchase of The Berkshire.
“My team and I understand the importance of providing stability and continuity to residents, their families and the existing care team at a time of change.
“We believe in the Social Care Future vision that everyone should live in a place they call home, with the people and things they love, in a community where everyone looks out for one another, doing what matters to them.
“We are looking forward to putting this vision at the heart of everything we do at The Berkshire.”
