main content Council committed to improving residential care homes

The Council is pleased to announce that Shaw healthcare has been appointed to run Bromley’s six residential care homes for older people from 1 April.

Shaw has an excellent track record of providing care in this setting and emerged as the successful bidder after a rigorous competitive tendering process.

The first stage of the new contract will begin when the current arrangement with BUPA expires on 31 March. The Council is also taking the opportunity to explore Shaw healthcare’s options for the modernisation of the residential services it provides to older people in the borough.

As community services have improved, allowing more people to continue to live independently in their own homes, there has been a change in the needs of residential care. The homes were designed many years ago and are no longer suitable for the more specialist nursing support now required.

Over the next six months, the Council will be considering our longer term requirements for residential/nursing home care, and negotiating with Shaw healthcare to decide whether it will be offered a contract to design and build new homes.

Executive Councillor for Social Care, Health and Housing Councillor Chris Phillips said: "The appointment of Shaw healthcare signals a new era for residential care in the borough and I am very excited by the prospect of working with them."

"It is vital that we provide the best care possible for people at this stage of their lives and this is reflected in our selection. Our aim is to provide modern facilities which better serve the needs of our older residents.”

Residents, their relatives and carers have been consulted throughout the tendering process and will continue to be involved as the Council works towards developing these services. The Council, BUPA and Shaw healthcare are all committed to ensuring the changeover is handled smoothly and sensitively.

The Council wishes to express its thanks to BUPA for managing the Care Home Services in recent years.

Jeremy Nixey, Chief Executive, Shaw healthcare, said: "We are delighted to have been invited to work with the London Borough of Bromley to manage their residential care services."

"We look forward to working with the staff of the homes to provide the best possible care and a service that everyone can be proud of and pleased with."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• The six homes are Anne Sutherland House (in Penge); Bellegrove (in St Paul’s Cray); Isard House (in Hayes); Kingswood House (in Shortlands); Manorfields (in Orpington); and Sheila Stead House (in Chislehurst).
• For media enquiries contact Emma Dedier, Communications Manager, on 020 8313 4415.
• Shaw healthcare was set up in 1986 to develop and operate care homes in partnership with local authorities and the NHS; it runs 70 homes, totalling 2,100 beds and 2,600 staff across the UK.
• Further information about Shaw healthcare and the services it provides are available at www.shaw.co.uk.