A NEW dementia care home in Shirley is now set to open in the new year after being hit by delays.
As we have reported, Tanworth Court, a 60-bed care home, has been built on land in Tanworth Lane.
It was initially due to open in September but has faced hold-ups.
Solihull Council intends the home to provide a mix of affordable care for those funded by the council, others paid for by the NHS, and accommodation for those who self-fund care on a long-term basis.
It was commissioned by the council ‘to meet the needs’ of the increasing number of older people in the borough.
A spokesman for Prime Life, to company contracted to manage the care home on behalf of Solihull council, said: “The building is now complete and we are now waiting for building control to sign off.
“We hope to take occupation of Tanworth Court at the start of January, and it will be open after our Care Quality Commission registration.
“We are actively looking for care home staff, so those interested in working at Tanworth Court should contact us on 0116 2746412.”
The care home has been built by Speller Metcalfe.
Solihull Council told the Observer: “Tanworth Court is now complete… it will open early next year.
“Once Prime Life were awarded the contract, they worked with the council’s design team to make some minor changes to the building layout to suit their way of working.
“This caused a slight delay, but enabled the internal design of the home to be adapted so that that they can operate at the highest standards over the longer term.
“The building is now already in use for staff training. This is essential to enable staff teams to become familiar with the brand new building in order to make it into as homely as possible for when people move in.
“The first potential residents have already been identified and moving in plans will progress as soon as the CQC registration is issued.”
When plans for Tanworth Court were agreed by the council, Coun Karen Grinsell, cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: “This new home is important and we will aspire to make it a centre of excellence in dementia care.
“Not only will it be purpose built to meet the specific needs of people with dementia but it will also help us to cater for the growing number of older people in our borough.
“Crucially, this will mean that more people will be able to receive good, quality care in the borough as opposed to moving further afield and away from loved ones.”
