Windsor Court
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‎ Gervis Meyrick Estate Secures Future for Residential Care Home

Photograph by Hattie Miles
The Windsor Court Care Home in Bournemouth has been saved after the Gervis Meyrick Estate first stepped in to rescue the care home from closing and has now completed a lease to residential care specialists Beritaz Group, securing a £1m investment package in the care home facilities.

Against the backdrop of a number of local care home closures, the Estate was determined to support the immediate and long term future of Windsor Court as a key asset for the benefit of the local community. The care home was minutes away from closure in the summer of 2015 when the Estate stepped in to acquire the original lease from the Administrators after the care home’s previous owners fell into financial difficulties.

Beritaz Group, a respected, family-owned care home provider with homes across Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset, was subsequently appointed on a short-term basis to ensure the care home remained fully operational while the Estate looked to find a long-term care partner. Beritaz demonstrated a first class approach to providing quality care over the last 18 months, leading the Estate to transform the short-term arrangement into a long-term lease, thereby assuring the continuity of high quality provision of elderly care and specialist services to existing residents and patients.

Beritaz’s significant investment in the building’s infrastructure, supported by the Estate, will also greatly benefit residents, patients and staff through the provision of a facility in keeping with the high quality care that the Beritaz team already delivers. Allowing for continuity of care, the refurbishment, which includes a new lift, dedicated dementia floor, 45 upgraded en-suite rooms, improved staff facilities and homely relaxation areas, will be introduced on a phased basis, with the original building (a sizeable Edwardian villa situated in one of Bournemouth’s Conservation Areas) maintained and preserved.

Kumar Gnanakumar, owner and Chief Executive Officer at Beritaz Care Ltd. said: “Since getting involved at a very short notice in June 2015, we were committed to securing this as a facility for the local community amidst the wave of local care home closures. This was made possible through the full commitment and support of both the Estate and the teams from Beritaz, Regulators (CQC), Bournemouth Borough Council and fellow professionals.

“We are delighted to have secured the long term future of the home through a lease and investment support from the Estate for our first care home in Bournemouth, especially one which offers care for different budget requirements in an area where high end care homes can be too costly for many families. I am confident Windsor Court will become a centre of excellent care provision in line with our philosophy of care which is ‘to care for our residents the way we would want our loved ones cared for.’”

Jane Portman, Executive Director, Adult and Children’s Services and deputy chief executive at Bournemouth Council said: “The rescue of Windsor Court meant existing residents avoided having to move to another care home and, thanks to the Gervis Meyrick Estate’s new lease arrangements, we continue to have this important care facility in the town. We are especially pleased that Windsor Court will include a specialist dementia service and Beritaz Care are able to welcome people with a mix of budgets. Despite some recent closures, Bournemouth’s care home market continues to be healthy especially for those homes that adapt to the needs of our town and focus on quality. We have been pleased to be part of Windsor Court’s rescue, and look forward to seeing it flourish.”

 

 
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