Jobs fear after care firm's collapse

Shocked care workers were left without pay and fearing for their jobs as three Rotherham old people’s care homes were put up for sale overnight after the operating company collapsed.

The three establishments, which are home to 140 residents aged between 70 and 102 and employ a staff of 130, are Mexborough’s Highgrove Care Home and the Sandygate and Beeches homes, both in Wath.

The administrators of Winnie Care (Highgrove) Ltd say that they want to reassure residents and families that they are hoping to sell the homes and care would continue as normal in the meantime.

But angry staff said that they did not know how they would pay their bills.

One senior carer at the Beeches, Sharon Edwards, quit her job on the spot in disgust.

Mrs Edwards (52), said: “We knew nothing. They called us into an emergency staff meeting with the landlord and told us we were not getting paid this month so I’ve lost five weeks’ wages.

“There’s a terrible atmosphere down there now and all the families are obviously very concerned.”

Chris Stevens and Ian Vickers, partners at FRP Advisory LLP, have been appointed joint administrators.

They will continue to operate the care homes as normal, with the assistance of Wright Care Home Solutions, which will oversee the operations of the homes while a purchaser is sought.

There are presently no plans for any of the homes to close or for redundancies to be made and it is hoped that arrangements will be reached to enable the care homes to continue into the future.

Mr Stevens said: “Trading is ongoing at each of the care homes and the residents continue to receive the same high level of care and attention as usual.

“We are reviewing the financial situation of the business and have every hope to find a purchaser as a going concern to safeguard the future of the care homes.”

Health union UNISON has been advising staff.