Friday, August 5th, 2011

Choices Care group enters administration

Administrators were called in after Choices Care suffered continuing cash flow difficulties.

The Livingston-based group employs 1,400 staff and provides supported living, home care and residential services.

Administrators at Zolfo Cooper said services were continuing uninterrupted.

The supported living division has already been sold to Mears Care Scotland Limited, with about 500 staff transferring to their new employer with immediate effect.

Zolfo Cooper said the registered services and home care divisions would continue to trade as normal with a view to selling them as going concerns.

The administrators said they had already received inquiries "from a number of interested parties".

All staff employed in the divisions would continue to be employed as normal.

Zolfo Cooper partner Peter Holder said: "The key aspect all along in this process has been to ensure that services continue to be provided to all users without interruption.

"We are extremely pleased therefore to have agreed a swift sale of the supported living business and wish all parties concerned well in their respective futures as they continue to provide services to users."

Mr Holder said administrators were now focusing on securing a suitable buyer for the remaining businesses.

He added: "We have already received a number of inquiries from interested parties and would welcome further expressions of interest.

"In the meantime, we will continue to ensure that service users experience no disruption to the quality care they are accustomed to."

Scottish Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health Jackie Baillie MSP said:

"This must be an extremely worrying time for those cared for by Choices Care, their families and staff.

"The SNP government must intervene to ensure arrangements are urgently put in place to ensure the continuity of care of all those currently cared for by Choice Care.

"This demonstrates that it is not just elderly care that is in crisis, but care services more widely.

"There is a fundamental issue that underlines why Choices Care has gone into administration. The SNP government and local authorities need to realise that if you want good quality services then they need to be properly funded."

BBC News Website- To view please follow this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-14418232

Topics: Care