The group which owns two care homes in Westgate has confirmed they will be closed.
Orchard Care Homes are responsible for Norfolk House and Ashbury Court. Ashbury Court had been rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in August. Norfolk House received a requires improvement rating in June. It had previously been rated as inadequate.
Orchard Care Homes say the decision for closure is not related to the inspections but based on financial viability.
Orchard Care Homes said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly.
“The homes require significant and long-term investment to bring them up to the standards we demand as a company, which is not financially viable.
“We have explored all available options, including a sale, but have concluded that closure is the only feasible option.
“We appreciate this is a difficult time and we are already working closely with residents, their families and the local authority to ensure the transition to new homes is as smooth as possible.
“We are consulting with the staff and will support them in finding new employment.”
A staff member told The Isle of Thanet News that a 28 day notice of closure had been issued.
Ashbury Court in Sea Road has 37 rooms.
An inspection on 30 November and 1 December 2016, found the service was in breach of six regulations and required the provider to make improvements. The service was rated Inadequate and placed in special measures
.In the last CQC report, in August, inspectors said: “Some of the necessary improvements had been made, however we found continued breaches of regulations and new breaches of three regulations.”
Inspectors found people were at risk of harm and abuse. The registered manager had not acted on some safeguarding incidents and people did not always receive the medicines they needed.
At neighbouring 30 room Norfolk House, which had been rated inadequate in October 2016, a follow up inspection in June found improvements had been made.
