After “calling-in” the decision on selecting a commercial operator for the new Beachcroft Care Home, the Maida Vale Councillors have won two key concessions from Westminster Council.

Firstly, the Council will now properly evaluate the option to manage Beachcroft itself in place of a for-profit supplier. This is our preferred option and we are pleased that it will now be fully costed and discussed over the next few months. This will give us the chance to explain why paying proper wages and pensions to care staff is the right thing to do to ensure we recruit and retain the best people. The in-house option had previously been ruled out due to the costs of paying Local Government pensions to the 108 staff.

Secondly, we have assurances that efforts will be made to ensure that any Beachcroft resident who needs nursing care will have this provided with at Beachcroft rather than being forced to move to a new care home.

Westminster Council has not been able to find a long-term operator for Beachcroft. Instead, it has rolled over the contract with GCH Health, the current supplier, for a limited twelve-month period. It was this decision that the Maida Vale Councillors challenged at a special meeting they called at City Hall.

Labour Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis said:

“Beachcroft residents deserve the best quality care. It’s a false economy to choose suppliers based on cost alone and we’re pleased that Westminster will look seriously at bringing the management of the home in-house. We do also hope that residents will now receive nursing care at Beachcroft if they need it without having to move home.”