Staff, residents and their families in eight Sirona care & health-run residential facilities in Bath and North East Somerset were today advised Sirona has given notice to terminate its contract to run the services.
This will not affect the level of care being provided to residents or affect jobs for Sirona care & health staff and no centres are being closed.
In a joint statement Bath & North East Somerset Council and Sirona care & health said:
“The Community Resource Centres and Extra Care facilities are people’s homes and together our first priority is to ensure high quality care and support is maintained for residents and tenants.
“Sirona has given 12 months’ notice to terminate the contract to provide residential and Extra Care services in Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton.
“Sirona and the council are saddened this step has been taken. These services have been a core part of Sirona since it was founded. The decision was taken because the on-going provision is financially unsustainable for Sirona as a not-for-profit social enterprise.
“The notice will not have a direct impact on residents or tenants who receive support through these services. We will work together during the notice period to ensure there is continuity of care and a smooth transition to new management.
“Sirona is keeping residents and families up to date. The council will of course also be considering various options on who will manage these services in the longer-term, with the focus on meeting the needs of residents, tenants and staff.”
Notes
Virgin Care acts for the council as contract managers of the service, which Sirona provides on behalf of the council, and has also been informed of the notice to terminate the contract.
Sirona care & health employs 280 staff and provides 105 residential care home beds within three Community Resource Centres (CRCs). The CRCs are owned by the council and leased to Sirona care & health. They were established as an important community asset by the council following public consultation, including with service users, carers and staff. The beds within the homes are provided as follows:
- Cleeve Court (45 beds), Bath
- Combe Lea (30 beds), Midsomer Norton
- Charlton House (30 beds), Keynsham
There are three Extra Care Housing sites in Bath, one in Midsomer Norton and one in Keynsham together providing support care to 140 tenants.
- Relatives who have a query can contact Sirona via sirona.families@nhs.net
