Flourishing care provider branch looks to expand
A THRIVING homecare provider branch which opened five months ago is looking to expand even further.
When Westmorland Homecare’s Penrith branch opened in May there was just care manager Charlotte Cooper and two homecare assistants.
Now Charlotte has been joined by two others in the office – a recruitment and training coordinator and a scheduling coordinator – and there is a growing team of more than 10 highly trained homecare assistants.
“We are delivering hundreds of care hours every week already and supporting more than 20 clients to live independently and safely in the comfort of their homes,” said Charlotte.
“We were gradually expanding at first but that expansion has become rapid recently and is continuing.
“We held an open event with coffee and cake at the office in June for everyone in the community to get to know the staff and the services offered. It was really successful and led to a lot of inquiries and helped us to become known in the area.”
Charlotte said the branch was constantly recruiting and training new homecare assistants to meet
the demand and need for care.
She added: “We hope to continue to grow and recruit more office staff and homecare assistants as we take on more clients.”
Staff provide care to enable vulnerable and often frail people over the age of 18 to live independently in their own home. Westmorland Homecare’s services include homecare, such as help with housekeeping and meal preparation, and personal care, which includes support with medication, dressing and bathing. It also supports people to access their community, living life to the full.
“We help clients who have a wide range of needs to keep them independent in their own homes, such as people who require companionship or taking out shopping or on outings through to people with a lot more complex care needs,” said Charlotte.
“The positive feedback we are receiving from clients and their families shows what a difference we are making to their lives and the importance of keeping people at home and independent.”
Westmorland Homecare also has branches in South Lakeland; Poulton, Fylde and Wyre; Preston; and Lancaster and Morecambe.
Tickets to this year’s Caring UK Awards at the Athena, Leicester on Thursday, December 5th are now available. For more information and to book your tickets visit https://script-events.co.uk/cuk-awards-tickets/
A resident at HC-One’s Primrose House care home in Haslington, Crewe, enjoyed a trip down memory lane after a fun day out fishing. Brian Halfpenny, 81, recently spoke to nursing assistant Craig Joinson about how he used to regularly go fishing. He was often found by the water’s edge fishing and – after hearing about Brian’s passion for fishing – Craig, who is also a very keen fisherman, decided to arrange a trip out for Brian to enable him to go again. Primrose House head housekeeper Cem Balcikli also helped arranged the day out for Brian and Craig, who went to Nantwich. Fishing rods were packed, along with some bait and a packed lunch for the day. Brian managed to catch six fish.
CUK Awards tickets in demand
TICKETS are selling fast for the industry’s biggest end-of-year party, with plans in place to make this year’s Caring UK Awards the best one yet.
Organised by Script Media in partnership with Caring UK and headline sponsor Virgin Money, this annual celebration of success will culminate in a glittering ceremony –taking place at the Athena in Leicester on Thursday December 5 – where the lucky winners will be revealed.
We received a record number of entries from all over the UK with so many stories of wonderful and we want to thank everyone who sent in nominations.
Shortlisted entries from far and wide have made the finals, now progressing to the next stage of the judging process.
Event organiser Dominic Musgrave added: “We have been amazed by the incredible work that has taken and is continuing to take place in homes nationwide.
“Once again we were overwhelmed with the standard of entries we received from homes up and down the country. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at the awards on December 5.”
Tickets to the care industry’s party of the year are available at https://scriptevents.co.uk/cuk-awards-tickets/
Former Chanel model takes to the catwalk Group celebrate creative success on national day
RESIDENTS at Four Seasons and brighterkind care homes are celebrating after winning awards for their artistic creations in a competition to mark the National Activities Providers Association’s National Day of Arts in Care Homes. The competition was organised with ‘Creative Mojo’ who provide bespoke art kits to all 50 Four Seasons Health Care and brighterkind care homes across the UK.
Themed projects this year have included Easter Wreaths, the Cinco de Mayo Carnival, The Olympic Games, Summer Beach Huts and Harvest Festival. October’s project will be creating colourful peacocks to celebrate Diwali.
Leanne-May Walsh, national wellbeing and activities manager at Four Seasons Heath Care Group, said: “Arts and crafts form an important part of our Magic Moments activities programme and our residents and team members love unleashing their creativity to produce some truly fantastic art.
“Our residents have revealed some amazing hidden talents, and many have been encouraged to revisit a past interest in art or try picking up a paintbrush for the first time and have really surprised themselves with how much they’ve enjoyed being involved.
“It doesn’t matter how talented an artist someone is, encouraging people to create something of their own or contribute to a group mural provides a sense of purpose and achievement. And getting everyone together to enjoy some creativity over a cuppa
and conversation, with some favourite music playing in the background is a such fun and sociable way to spend a morning.
“We invite family and friends from the local community to join us at our art and crafts sessions and getting children from local schools and nurseries involved always makes for a heartwarming intergenerational activity which our residents love.
“All our care homes will receive participation art award certificates and winning entries will be reproduced as postcards for residents to send to family and friends.”
The Magic Moments teams at the care homes submitted artworks created during the year in award categories including ‘Most Colourful Care Home‘, ‘Most Motivated Resident’, ‘Outstanding Contribution to Art’ and ‘The More the Merrier’, which recognises a home who encourages lots of residents to get involved in art activities, with projects for all abilities.
RESIDENTS at Royal Star & Garter in High Wycombe have been working the catwalk and reliving their past experiences in the glamorous world of fashion and modelling.
They took part in a vibrant fashion show, arranged to coincide with the recent London Fashion Week.
Stars of the show included a former model who worked with some of the world’s biggest fashion houses, a Navy veteran who became head of reception at a fashion house office in London’s Regent Street, and a resident who served in the Air Force during WWII, and then discovered a flare for fashion photography.
Home manager Reggie Ballos said: “We wanted to show that beauty and glamour is for everyone – no matter your age or if you’re living with a disease like dementia – and we had great fun hosting the event. “Residents and staff really enjoyed themselves and we look forward to doing it again.”
Among those taking part in the fashion show was Carolyn, who was crowned Fashion Queen of Great Britain in 1958.
She modelled for French fashion houses, including Chanel and Balmain, and later appeared on TV shows including Coronation Street
and Rising Damp. She would also regularly attend London Fashion Week with her husband Frank.
Staff at the Home have set up Carolyn’s Boutique, which displays clothes, shoes and accessories from her wardrobe, outside her room on the dementia care area.
Ross served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Her daughters say she has always taken great pride in her appearance, and was told by an aunt that she looked very glamorous in her Wrens uniform.
In the 1980s, Ross was in charge of the reception at Coats Viyella fashion house in Regent Street, London. During this time, she met many visiting high-profile celebrities and politicians of the day. Ross is now living with dementia. Staff at the Home say she still takes great care to look elegantly dressed and made-up each morning.
Kay, who recently celebrated her 105th birthday, served with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and was a plotter during WWII at RAF Uxbridge.
After demobbing at the conclusion of the war, she began a photography course at the London Polytechnic, and discovered a talent for fashion photography.
Operator delivers massive economic boost
A NEW study has found that independent care provider Parklands Care Homes makes a multi-millionpound contribution to the regional and national economy, with its impact set to increase as the care group expands.
The report by economic consultants MKA Economics assesses the group’s current economic impact and projects the effects of its future expansion up to 2028.
Its analysis shows that Grantown based Parklands, which has 12 care homes in the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire, currently contributes £27.5million a year to the Scottish economy in gross value added. At the regional level, £10million is generated in Highland and £15.8million in Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Parklands’ planned investment, which includes a new 58 bed care home in Inverness currently under construction and due to open in Spring 2025, homes in Elgin, Turriff and Alford, a series of later living villages and enhancements to existing homes, will see its contribution to the Scottish economy reach £41.4million a year by 2028, with £14.9million generated in Highland
and £23.8million in the North East. The study highlights the positive impact of Parklands at a time when social care is facing significant challenges, including the collapse of care operators and the closure of local care homes.
The report suggests the number of care beds provided by Parklands is forecast to increase by 59 per cent,
from 451 to 718.
Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Care Homes, said: “Parklands has grown from a single care home into one of the north of Scotland’s largest employers, delivering much-needed care capacity and creating new career opportunities for local people. At a time when social care in Scotland is contracting,
Parklands is delivering significant investment in the region.
“This economic impact study highlights our role as a major employer and economic driver in the region, with our contribution set to grow significantly as we expand.
“Our ongoing developments will not only enhance care provision but also deliver a substantial economic dividend to the construction sector and create new employment opportunities for local people, ensuring lasting benefits for communities across the Highlands and the North East.”
Parklands currently employs around 860 staff, including full-time, parttime, and relief workers, and supports employment through its wider supply chain.
The economic study converts these numbers into full-time equivalents. It projects that Parklands’ expansion will increase its FTE count from 501 to 757, a 51 per cent rise.
Parklands’ investment will also generate a one-off boost for construction worth £33.4million in GVA to the national economy by 2028. In the North East, this amounts to £19.7million and in Highland £13.7million in GVA terms.
Leeanne and Mark Kummerer of MKA Economics and Ron Taylor (front), MD of Parklands Care Homes.
Film starring role for Hampton Care Home
HAMPTON Care Home was chosen as a setting for the film Wake, which premiered in London recently.
The gritty 10-minute ‘short’ marks the writing and directorial debut of actor Alan McKenna who has starred in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Doctors, Waterloo Road, Happy Valley among many popular TV series.
Inspired by the experiences of a close friend, who is also Wake’s executive director, Alan was keen to use the genre of film to explore the theme of alcoholism and its effects on the person and their family.
The main protagonist, Mick, lives in a care home and is becoming increasingly ill and erratic, thanks to his addiction to alcohol. Wheelchair bound, he is looked after by keyworker Zoe and visited by his son Josh, who is visibly frustrated by his inability to influence his father’s choices and by the one-sided nature of their relationship.
Mick and Zoe are played by seasoned TV and film actors Ian Burfield and Indra Ové, with aspiring young newcomer Arthur Holmes as Josh. Arthur is also the grandson of the executive director, with first-hand experience of the ripple effects of alcoholism within a family.
Using a combination of real-time scenes and flashbacks, the action takes place in the warm, dry care home and, in a stark contrast, on and under a bridge on a stormy night. The ending is intriguing and open
to interpretation, but the underlying message is clear: you cannot ‘save’ another person, but instead must learn to let go and live your own life.
“The key to the film is the relationship between father and son,” said producer Rhiannon Bennett from Across the Street Productions. She and business partner Sara Bothe, director of award-winning short film The Café, worked closely with Alan, as well as Killing Eve editor Dan Crinnion and veteran cinematographer Damien Paul Daniel to bring Wake to the screen.
HC-One’s Admiral’s Reach in Chelmsford, Essex, has marked World Alzheimer’s Month by taking part in a ‘Memory Walk’. Staff and residents at the care home were joined by family and friends on the walk which included a route through the local park, where the group enjoyed the fresh air and wildlife. As they went along, they handed out leaflets inviting the public to make donations via their JustGiving donations page. So far they have raised more than £400 for the charity.
Charity dog show puts pooches through paces
PRIZE pooches went on parade as a Dorset care home staged its first ever community dog show.
Residents and staff at Colten Care’s Whitecliffe House in Blandford welcomed families, friends and fourlegged competitors for the outdoor fun with all proceeds going to the home’s charity of the year, the Dorset Children’s Foundation.
Home manager Helen Chapman said: “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day, with many fits of laughter as dogs and owners navigated the obstacle course. We received huge amounts of positive feedback and look forward to welcoming everyone back next year.”
Dexter the dachshund stole the show right at the start, winning the first category of ‘Naughtiest Dog’ by
barking at the rest of the field.
The other nine categories included titles such as ‘Waggiest Tail’ and ‘Softest Belly’.
An obstacle course prompted much laughter as handlers directed their canine companions in a race to decide ‘Who Can Find the Treat Fastest’. Whitecliffe House residents were fully involved in setting up and running the event.
They worked with the home’s gardener Joan Batchelor to create floral decorations for visitors’ tables and, on the day, prepared homemade lemonade.
Three residents – Lorraine James, Jean Peach and Anne Pitcher –formed the judging panel as the dogs began vying for glory across the various classes.
In search of the perfect location, Rhiannon and Sara thoroughly researched venues in and around London but couldn’t find anywhere suitable for the care home scenes.
However, Alan and his TV makeup artist wife, Keeley, know Hilary Pearce, Hampton Care Home’s head of activities, because their sons attend the same school in Hampton village. They got in touch and, after receiving permission from the home manager and conducting a recce, decided that Hampton would be a perfect setting. A room on the first-
floor Saffron unit was selected as ‘Mick’s room’.
Filming took place on a cold December day, and residents and staff were delighted to welcome the cast and crew.
“Filming at Hampton was absolutely integral to the story,” added Alan. “It made Mick’s life in the care home completely authentic. The home was amazing and everyone there was lovely. The manager even gave us all cakes and mulled wine. It was such a great experience.”
Hilary added: “Hampton is where our residents live, and if they happened to be coming out of their rooms or walking up the corridor, the production team were great and simply filmed around them.
“Actually, our biggest challenge was to do justice to our Christmas fayre, which just happened to be on the same day as the film shoot.”
Wake will now be shown at the various international film festivals and may be developed into a mini series or feature film.
“It certainly makes you think and ask questions. I really want to know more about the characters and the background to the story,” said Hilary, who used to work for the British Film Institute.
Alan plans to continue writing and directing as well as acting, and is currently working on new scripts. Sara and Rhiannon also have other exciting projects in the pipeline.
Shilpi is a winner at Great British Franchisee Awards
SHILPI Verma, the Walfinch home care franchisee for Harrow and Brent, has been named as a winner at the prestigious Great British Franchisee Awards.
Shilpi, who started her home care company with Walfinch in 2021, was recognised in these national awards for her passion for care and support combined with the business skills that in just three years have led her to build a 55-strong team who look after 28 clients.
She said: “Winning a Great British Franchise Award is such an honour. It’s a testament to the passion, dedication, and hard work of our entire team.
“To be recognised for our commitment to delivering outstanding care means the world.
“This award not only recognises me as a franchisee, but our fantastic team of carers, who inspire me to keep pushing boundaries in adult social care and making a real difference in the lives of those we support.”
Walfinch CEO Amrit Dhaliwal added: “We are delighted that Shilpi has won a Great British Franchisee award.
“Shilpi has worked incredibly hard to grow her Walfinch franchise and inspires her team every day to go over and above to engage with the community and look after the wellbeing of all of their clients within their own homes.
“From arranging free dental visits to exercise classes, plus cultural dances and meetings and fundraising to support the community, we are thrilled that this ceaseless work has been recognised with one of the most
prestigious awards in the franchise industry.”
Shilpi’s philosophy of proactive care includes regular polls of clients. When some clients said they wanted help with bed making, it was included in carers’ training, and Shilpi helped hone carers’ cooking skills.
A recent poll showed 100 per cent of clients were satisfied and comfortable after their care visits.
To help ensure staff wellbeing she has created monthly staff meetings, where carers can chat over pizza and cakes, and she has arranged gym discounts and free financial advice.
Shilpi said: “Being named as a Great British Franchisee is a huge driver for me and the whole team to continue to deliver the highest-quality care. Our clients, carers and the local community will all benefit from this award.”
Hampton Care Home
Shilpi Verma with Walfinch Harrow and Brent care manager Freya Massingham.
Norfolk care home wins gardening competition
RESIDENTS and staff at Heath Lodge in Holt, North Norfolk, were delighted to welcome David Domoney from ITV’s This Morning to the home after winning a gardening competition.
He presented the residents with their trophy, and was given a tour of the garden by them, including everything they had planted and the new water feature, and all the steps they had taken to ensure wildlife was also cared for in their garden.
“I was delighted to go to and meet everyone at Heath Lodge after winning the Danforth in Bloom competition and was pleased to see the results of such a great initiative,” David said.
“What they have been able to create is not just a garden, but a community and friendship, which nourishes the residents and enables them to enjoy the pursuit of gardening.”
Starting this year, the Danforth in Bloom competition invited care homes in the group to compete for the title of best garden. Nine homes participated in the competition, with Heath Lodge coming out on top.
Preparations for the competition began in April, and since then the residents have been hard at work. Heath Lodge residents planted lots of fruit and veg in their garden, such as rhubarb, strawberries and fresh herbs, which will be used as fresh produce for meals.
They also planted lavender and other aesthetic plants which will be used for table decorating.
The final submission for the competition was a two-minute video showcasing their garden, which David was shown in the cinema room at the care home.
Entries were judged impartially by Danforth’s construction partner, LNT, who had a scoring system with various criteria given individual scores. The judges said the competition was very close, with all the gardens submitted looking “absolutely beautiful”, but Heath Lodge took the win.
Heath Lodge shared their plans for next year’s competition with David, who was thrilled with their ideas, and also gave his advice on what to plant and when to plant it to give them the best chance of winning again.
“Everyone at Heath Lodge enjoyed our preparation for Danforth in Bloom, and to win the trophy is the icing on the cake” said manager Hazel Madden
“We had a lovely garden party to celebrate the completion of the garden with the residents’ friends and family, and we’ve now had a fabulous day welcoming David Damoney and getting great tips for next year’s competition.”
Homeowners to produce their own cookbook
THE homeowners and staff at Castle View Retirement Living in Windsor are to launch a community cookbook
The idea was born out of their successful recent Biggest Coffee Morning fundraiser for Macmillan which raised £500 for the cancer charity.
The event showcased an array of delectable treats, with participants outdoing themselves in both creativity and skill. From classic Victoria sponges to innovative gluten-free biscuits, the quality and variety of baking on display left everyone impressed and inspired.
Buoyed by this sweet taste of success, the enthusiasm from everyone and the evident skill on display, the idea to harness the collective culinary talent and raise even more for the charity by publishing a cookbook was born.
Karl Hallows, managing director of Castle View, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support we receive from our homeowners, colleagues and the wider community of Windsor and this cookbook is a wonderful way to celebrate that spirit while continuing to support the vital work of Macmillan.”
The retirement community is now inviting anyone in the area to submit their favourite recipes for inclusion in
the cookbook.
Castle View is therefore welcoming recipe submissions from anyone who wishes to contribute.
Whether it is a family favourite, a modern twist on a classic, or a personal creation, all entries are welcome.
Recipes should be for any type of baked item – cakes, biscuits, bread, scones etc, and to submit a recipe, entrants should include the following:
n The recipe title.
n A list of ingredients with measurements.
n Step-by-step cooking instructions.
n Any personal notes or stories associated with the recipe (optional)
n A high resolution photograph of what the completed item should look like.
n Your name and contact details –telephone and email address.
Submissions can be emailed to Castle View’s communications partner at info@mavenmedia. co.uk or dropped off at the Castle View reception desk, Helston Lane, Windsor, SL4 5GG.
All proceeds from the cookbook sales will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support, extending the impact of the initial fundraiser.
The cookbook will be available by Christmas.
AVANTE Care & Support has announced plans to operate a new, 70-bedroom care home to be built on land at Lucks Hill in West Malling, Kent.
The home will be the second Avante will open within a year following the planned completion of another 70-bedroom care home in WestgateOn-Sea near Margate, expected to open at the end of 2025. The new modern facility at West Malling will provide nearly 100 local jobs and will offer high-quality facilities to meet the needs of local residents.
The interior finish of the home will be designed using local themes as inspiration, and it will be built to high energy efficiency standards incorporating solar panels and air source heat pumps.
In addition, Avante will incorporate many facilities, including balcony terraces and plenty of amenities such as a café for use by residents, relatives,
staff and the local community.
Managing director Stuart Cross said: “I am delighted to be able to announce this exciting new opportunity. Our vision for all our homes and services is ‘Communities where everyone has a vibrant and fulfilling life’. We will be looking to make this vision a reality for the people of West Malling.”
The deal is between Avante Care & Support as operators of the care home and an investor landlord as owners of the building based on a 35-year lease. Barcroft Estates in conjunction with Lawrence Baker will construct the care home. Other partners involved in the project include Harris Irwin as architects, Fed 3 Projects as construction consultants for Barcroft and Lawson Queay as client representative for Avante Care & Support.
The building is expected to open to residents in the second half of 2026.
Residents at Keate House Care Home in Lymm recently gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Treasured Memory Lounge with a party. The event, filled with dancing, singing and laughter, was a tribute to the room’s role in creating memorable moments for the residents. The celebration featured a lively ukulele session, with everyone dancing and singing along in the lounge. The festivities concluded with a birthday buffet topped off by a homemade birthday cake crafted by the kitchen team.
Residents launch poetry book with special event
RESIDENTS have been experimenting with different forms of poetry and will launch their own poetry book at Housing 21’s extra care scheme, Mildmays in Islington.
The forthcoming launch event will see the proud residents present their book – Still Life with Movement – a collection of poems that have been written by residents as part of a partnership project with arts organisation, All Change and their associate artist Francesca Beard.
The poems have been written by 13 residents from the scheme with the support of Francesca and the All Change team.
Themes for the poems include family, memories and journeys.
The charity partnered with the scheme in 2016, and the programme has given residents the opportunity to channel their artistic flare, whilst also supporting their community and social connections through regular workshops, outings and celebration events.
Suzanne Lee, artistic director at All Change, said: “We are delighted to publish this beautiful collection of original poetry by residents, which shares magical memories, stories and pearls of wisdom from this extraordinary and creative community.
“It is the result of a rich and long-
“Every fortnight residents and staff welcome our artists and generously share stories and time, creating wonderful work together.”
The families of the residents, along with Housing 21 employees and representatives from All Change, will attend the launch event.
Members of the local community and local MP Jeremy Corbyn are also invited to attend.
The day will feature residents reading out some of the poems from the book, followed by a celebration which will include food, drinks and music.
Printed copies of the anthology will be shared with the residents and their families.
Operator breaks ground on luxury care home
CHD Living has commenced construction on its latest development in Elstead.
It marks CHD Living’s third development in 2024 and its fifth care home in the borough of Waverley.
The care home will provide longterm nursing care, post-operative care and reablement services, ensuring a holistic approach to health and recovery. It will offer a wide range of facilities designed to promote the wellbeing and dignity of all residents, and will include spacious residential rooms, landscaped gardens and a variety of communal spaces to foster a vibrant community atmosphere.
Shaleeza Hasham, commercial director at CHD Living, said: “We are incredibly proud to break ground on what will be a superb addition to our portfolio in Surrey.
“This project not only signifies our commitment to expanding quality care, but also embodies our dedication to the community and our ethos of creating a ‘home away from
home’ for our residents.
“We’re excited to bring our unique blend of compassionate care and innovative facilities to Elstead, enhancing the lives of local residents and their families.”
The development will occupy part of a larger residential site, which completed in 2023 comprising of 69 detached houses and apartments.
The approved planning permission covers a 3,000 square metre area designated for a 60-bed care home, set in one acre of grounds.
The development is expected to provide significant benefits to the local community, including the creation of new jobs and the enhancement of local infrastructure.
CHD Living’s dedication to sustainability will also be reflected in the project, adhering to high environmental standards throughout the construction and operational phases. This state-of-the-art home is set to open in Autumn next year
High Court ruling unlocks sale of care homes
A HIGH Court ruling into the unwinding of a care home group which was funded through a collective investment scheme, could see investors recovering some of their monies.
Earlier this month the High Court ruled that the former investors into St Mary’s Nursing Home in Moston, Manchester, a Qualia Care home, with 77 residents and 85 members of staff, could surrender their leases which were purchased under “fractional ownership” in order for the property to be sold – enabling care for elderly and vulnerable residents to continue.
Stephen Hunt of Griffins, the appointed administrator of the Qualia Group, and solicitors, Gateley Legal, made an application to the High Court under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 n relation to the home which is being marketed by Colliers’ Healthcare team.
Qualia Care Properties Ltd and Qualia Care Developments Ltd was funded by a Ponzi scheme which took £57million from individual investors between February 2016 and September 2020.
Individuals invested between £50,000 and £70,000 on purchasing a long-term lease on a room in a care home and sub-let the room back to the other Qualia companies.
In a previous case bought by the Financial Conduct Authority last year, the High Court ruled that the former director of the company Robin Forster had made false and misleading
statements, promising investors returns of between eight to 10 per cent of the purchase price, which were never likely to be achievable.
Qualia Care Properties Ltd and Qualia Care Developments Ltd were both liquidated in the summer of 2022, while Qualia Care Ltd went into administration in October of that year.
Some of the group’s 14 care homes have since closed, however nine are still in operation providing approximately 476 care home places to residents.
The portfolio is estimated to have a value in excess of £20million, and could achieve greater uplift following asset management.
This latest High Court ruling unlocks the way for the Qualia Care assets to be sold to new owners and operators, and could see former investors receive around a third of their investment recovered through the sales process.
Administrator Stephen Hunt said: “It is rare for an insolvency practitioner to obtain a happy outcome for all concerned. This case marks the culmination of two years of hard work by a number of professionals and stakeholders to obtain a remarkable outcome for investors, staff, and vulnerable residents.
“I was appointed to a loss-making care home group formed by a Ponzi scheme, soon after the end of Covid
and during the energy crisis caused by the Ukraine war.
“Qualia had no access to funding as it had no free assets to borrow against. From this unpromising start we have turned round the business and implemented a novel legal solution to unlock returns to investors and creditors of up to £20million. Everyone involved should be very proud of that.”
Nick Hammond, head of Colliers’ advisory and restructuring team, added: “There are so many vulnerable parties who have been caught up in this whole scheme from the investors, to the residents and the staff at these care homes. This court ruling unlocks the opportunity to safeguard the operational homes by allowing them to be marketed to a new owner and operator.
Ali Willoughby, from Colliers’ Healthcare team said: “We received lots of interest in St Mary’s and following the due legal process will be able to complete its sale next month.
“We anticipate continued interest in the majority of the remaining Qualia Care assets which will provide certainty to both the staff and residents, as well as the potential to recover some of the funds for the individual investors, many of whom ploughed their life savings into this scheme.”
The Court hearing was led by barristers Eleanor Temple KC (Kings Chambers) and FSMA specialist Ruth Bala (4 Pump Court).
St Marys Nursing Home, Moston.
term partnership between All Change and Mildmays.
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