CM New Developments

Two residential care homes in Torquay, Devon have been sold to local operator Beechcroft Care Homes. The 21-bed and 24-bed homes provide old age and dementia care. Beechcroft has already begun plans to upgrade and modernise the two homes.

Working with construction firm Rofft Developments, care provider Pendine Park has applied for planning permission to build 21 extra care apartments for older people in Wrexham. Work on the £3m project will begin immediately if plans are approved by Wrexham county borough council, with residents due to move in by the summer of 2015.

Eildon Housing Association has opened a £7.9m development, half of which will be an extra care scheme. Dovecot Court, which has been constructed in partnership with Scottish Borders council and the Scottish Government comprises 59 two-bedroom apartments, with 37 offering extra care services.

Barchester Healthcare has started work on its latest care home build in Deeping St James. The 60-bed development is being constructed by Larkpoint with the investment coming from Cinnamon Care Capital. The care home will provide high-end services, as well as dedicated dementia care in one of Barchester’s memory lane communities when it opens in autumn 2014.

The Abbeyfield Kent Society has opened a new dementia wing at its Greensted care home in Wateringbury, Maidstone. It extends existing facilities at the home by adding a new dining room with seating area, lounge and kitchen specifically designed for service users with the disease.

The Abbeyfield Kent Society has opened a new dementia wing at its Greensted care home in Wateringbury, Maidstone. It extends existing facilities at the home by adding a new dining room with seating area, lounge and kitchen specifically designed for service users with the disease.

The Huntercombe Group has changed the registration of its facility in Sherwood from a hospital to a care home focusing on nursing and personal care. The Huntercombe Centre- Sherwood is an all-male rehabilitation centre designed as a community-focused setting for adults with learning disabilities, complex mental health needs and challenging behaviour. The modifications were made to the 14-bed facility in response to the Winterbourne View hospital serious case review and the on-going learning disability review (CCMn December 2012/January 2013).

Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland, Edwin Poots has announced £2.5m government funding for a new Mencap centre for children with learning disabilities in the province. The centre will provide early intervention support aided by a shared, accessible activity space for children and their families. Facilities will include play rooms, a sensory room, art and crafts rooms, a family room, an information area and therapy support.

Bondcare is to spend £1m refurbishing four of its care homes in the north east of England. Allan Court, based in Benwell, Newcastle, Debaliol Care Home, which is located in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, Donwell House Care Home & Day Centre in Washington and Redworth House in Shildon, Co. Durham will all benefit from the investment.

A Midlands-based care group last month accused Birmingham city council of driving down quality by not paying adequate fees to local providers.