Three care homes in Kent operated by Rapport Housing and Care will be closing their doors by mid-January.
Connors House in Canterbury, Dene Holm in Northfleet, and Edward Moore House in Gravesend are, according to the provider, which currently operates eight care homes across Kent providing specialist dementia care, palliative care, and short-term respite, ‘no longer viable’.
The move means that over one hundred residents will now have to make alternative arrangements for their care. Rapport Housing and Care has blamed spiralling energy prices, the ongoing crisis in staff recruitment in social care, and continuing ‘chronic underfunding’ of the sector by the government.
The chief executive of Rapport, Leon Steer, said: "The social care sector is currently under extreme pressure and amidst the greatest workforce crisis in history. Unfortunately, the staffing crisis, combined with chronic underfunding from the government, rising energy costs and essential forecasted property improvement works has left us in a position where operating these homes is no longer viable.
"Earlier this year, the Care Quality Commission reported that more than 1,600 care home beds had been lost in just six months, as worsening staff shortages and the financial strain after two years of the Covid pandemic caused a net loss of 134 homes in England.
"In addition to that, a poll by the South East Social Care Alliance found that almost half (45 per cent) of care providers in the region are considering exiting the sector because of underfunding for local authority/ NHS funded residents.
"The sector needs urgent reform and until action is taken, there will undoubtedly be many more care home closures across the UK.
"As we start the closure process, the wellbeing of our residents remains our priority, and we will be supporting our residents and their loved ones as they move into alternative accommodation."
