People 'really upset' as Liverpool care home to close down for good

There is sadness and concern after at news that a Liverpool care home, which provides vital support for disabled adults, is to close its doors for good.

The Orchard care home is based in Woolton Road in Woolton in south Liverpool. It currently has residential space for 27 people with disabilities. The home provides support for people with acquired brain injuries and those who have suffered strokes. The centre also support people with a range of other conditions including learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.

The Orchard is run by the charity Leonard Cheshire, which operates residential homes, supported living and domiciliary support services for disabled people around the country. On its website, the charity describes The Orchard as 'a premier choice for those seeking a supportive and vibrant community for people with disabilities."

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But despite this, shocked staff and residents were recently told that The Orchard is set to close down in February. The news caused great concern for those currently living and being supported at the centre and their families.

A community nurse who works with the care home told the ECHO how concerned staff, residents and their families are. She said: "It is a place for people with complex needs, there are lots of residents with those challenges. Some of these residents have been living at the home for 30 or 40 years.

"Quite a few of them don't have family support and they will need other support. This news is really distressing for them. People are really upset, they don't feel this has been handled very well."

For its part, Leonard Cheshire moved to explain the reason for the closure, pointing out that The Orchard has been operating with long-term vacancies for the past two years.

A spokesperson for Leonard Cheshire said: “Demand for the type of service provided by our residential service in Liverpool has declined in recent times. Referrals that do come in now are often unsuitable and related to mental health conditions or alcohol use for example. These are outside of The Orchard’s expertise in supporting people with physical disabilities.

“The Orchard has operated with long-term vacancies for around two years. This resulted in it having a relatively poor financial performance compared to our other locations, with staff costs as a proportion of income rising steadily.

“With most of the residents over 60, residential care is not what younger disabled people want and they are not being placed at the service by Commissioners.

“Overall, having considered all the factors, we sadly do not see The Orchard being part of Leonard Cheshire’s future strategic direction or investment plans going forward."

Speaking about the residents currently based at the home, the spokesperson added: “We will work closely with residents and families in the coming months, supporting funding local authorities to identify alternative support which is right for the needs of people living at The Orchard. We are also looking at potential moves to other Leonard Cheshire services where this is requested.”

Asked about the jobs of those currently working at The Orchard, the charity says it is supporting every team member to 'help them make decisions about their future employment, including exploring suitable redeployment opportunities within Leonard Cheshire.'