Local councillor says news is "totally out the blue"
Quarriers is to close three care homes forcing 17 vulnerable residents to move to other accommodation.
Last November, the care charity informed Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) of plans to close Ashgrove, Fountainview and Glen Valley in Quarriers Village near Bridge of Weir which will ultimately affect a total of 17 residents come March.
Local councillor Eddie Devine, who represents Paisley Southeast, said he was stunned by the news as it leaves little time for the service users to adjust.
“It’s completely out of the blue,” he said. “The HSCP was formally notified in November and suddenly it has got to find somewhere for these people to live. It just astonishes me.
“They need certainty. It must be so distressing for them and their relatives. It will be immensely stressful.
“We need to make sure the people we are responsible for are taken care of and settled in wherever they have to go.”
Those affected range from 45 and the oldest 85 years old.
It is understood that Quarriers’ services are becoming increasingly reliant on agency staff due to staff shortages with the charity reshaping Quarriers Village provision to meet its obligations to the number of staff it has available.
Dr Ron Culley, chief executive of Quarriers, said: “Quarriers has been working closely with our partner local authorities since November to ensure that the closure of the three care homes is undertaken with the minimal amount of disruption to the lives of people we support.
“We are committed to supporting the families of the 17 residents and we have been in active discussion with them this week about how best we can assist them during this transition period.
“We are confident our residents will be able to find positive alternative accommodation options by the end of March, and for some that will include exploring a move to other Quarriers services.
The decision to close the care homes was made with a heavy heart. We have offered high quality care and support to our residents across many years.
“However, the staffing crisis in social care is having an acute impact on the sustainability of services across Scotland.
“For Quarriers, it regretfully means we are unable to continue to operate the three care homes in Quarriers Village.”
Some of those affected have lived in the village for a number of years and have a range of complex care and support needs.
Their services are designed to support individuals with learning disabilities, but there are additional needs associated with dementia, acquired brain injury and physical health issues.
The HSCP has written to all eight families and guardians to outline the steps taken so far and its work in identifying suitable alternative accommodation for their loved ones.
A spokesperson said: “We have been working closely with Quarriers, Inverclyde Council and other partners to ensure the best possible support is in place for individuals and families from Renfrewshire affected by this change.
“A Renfrewshire HSCP project team has been established and we are in regular contact with all parties.”
