Decision due on future of closed care home

A decision on re-opening an empty care home as supported living flats is set to be made by councillors.

Trinity House Care Centre in Old Hill, Cradley Heath, closed last year after successive "inadequate" ratings from inspectors.

New plans by the previous operators would see the former 33-bed care home in Mace Street converted into 14 supported living flats.

Sandwell Council's planning officers have recommended the application is approved when the authority's planning committee meets on 8 January.

A report outlining the recommendations said the flats would create "no demonstrable detriment to the surrounding area".

Five objections were made against the plan, with John Tipper, an independent councillor for Cradley Heath and Old Hill, requesting that the application was discussed by the council's planning committee rather than decided by officers.

Two previous plans to convert the building into assisted living flats were withdrawn at the end of 2023.

These came after a plan to convert the former care home into a 34-bed HMO (house in multiple occupation) was also withdrawn.

According to the application, the flats would be run by Rehability UK, the same company that was in charge of the care home when it closed.

Rehability said the closure was a "business decision" and was not because of the inadequate rating.

The care home closed its doors last year after twice receiving the lowest grade from the Care Quality Commission, the body responsible for inspecting care homes.

The watchdog issued the rating after finding that CCTV cameras had been installed in the building without consent from vulnerable residents or their loved ones.

The care home was criticised in 2022 for not providing enough activities for residents and for leaving a broken television in the care home's only remaining communal space.

The garden was left in a "hazardous" state of disrepair, and safeguarding concerns were raised with Sandwell Council.

The care home was inspected following allegations by whistleblowers of physical and financial abuse, which led to it being placed in special measures.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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