Private firm will take on council care homes in Warwickshire

Warwickshire County Council this week announced Runwood Homes had been selected as its preferred bidder to run the authority’s eight remaining homes, including The Lawns in Whitnash and Park View in Warwick, and that the firm would be investing an extra £360,000 and adding beds in each home.

The two homes had been scheduled to close as early as August under plans to save £22 million. In Whitnash, councillors and relatives of current and former residents formed a social enterprise to try to save the Lawns, which has around 34 residents.

Despite the news that a private firm had won the bid, Cllr Bernard Kirton (Ind, Whitnash) welcomed the news - but said the group would reamin cautious until the transfer was “signed, sealed and delivered”.

He said: “It’s what we were hoping would happen because we couldn’t buy it. We said if they could find somebody to run it we would offer to help them.

“The Lawns is part of our community. We will keep a watching brief until it is up and running under new ownership.”

Runwood is expected to take full ownership of the council’s eight homes in October with residents continuing their placements as before, and staff currently employed by the council also transferring.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, who is responsible for adult social care, said Runwood had a “strong track record”, adding: “The wellbeing of residents is our main priority and we are pleased that older people will continue to be served in their local communities by our dedicated staff. Throughout the process there was no doubt that there is overwhelming support for the service that our care home staff provide and I would like to thank them for their professionalism and support.”