Kingsfield Care Home, Faversham

by political editor Paul Francis

Social services chiefs have moved to assure residents in five Southern Cross care homes that there is no immediate likelihood of them having to move.

Kent County Council has about 100 elderly people in homes in east Kent.

The council said residents did not face a major upheaval after a rescue plan failed and the company suspended shares.

Southern Cross is now planning for landlords to take over 750 homes it currently owns.

Cllr Graham Gibbens (Con), KCC cabinet member for adult social care, admitted the news would create anxiety for residents and their relatives.

"I accept this is a time of uncertainty. We have been monitoring the homes very carefully in the last few weeks. I am assured that the services in each of these homes will continue and carry on. As far as the homes are concerned, it is premature to say what is going to happen but it will become clearer when the future is decided by the landlord and the company."

Asked if KCC had contingency plans in the event that landlords decided they did not wish to take over the homes, he said: "There is capacity across Kent but I do not think that is likely [to be needed] in the short term. We are looking at that as an extreme case."

KCC has residents at five Southern Cross homes. They are: Elvy Court, Sittingbourne; Fairfield Manor, Broadstairs; Highfield Care Centre, Canterbury; Kingsfield Care Home, Faversham and Woodlands Care Centre, Broadstairs.

The homes also look after privately supported residents as well as residents placed by KCC.

Kent Unison branch secretary David Lloyd said Southern Cross’s plight highlighted the dangers of KCC’s recent plan to sell-off and privatise some of its own residential homes.