HC-One to Sell a Further 19 Care Homes
HC-One has put 19 care homes up for sale to complete a restructuring programme announced in 2021.
The news comes in the same week that Methodist Homes announced it was shedding 10 of its 88 care homes as part of a long-term sustainability programme.
Currently the UK’s largest care home operator, HC-One has already sold several homes in recent months, after putting 52 of its properties on the market back in March 2021. HC-One owns and operates some 275 homes specialising in dementia, nursing, and residential care.
A spokesperson for HC-One said:
“At HC-One, our purpose as ‘The Kind Care Company’ is to serve at the heart of each of our communities, and to support those in our care to lead their best lives. As a responsible provider, we acknowledge that there are some instances where it may be more appropriate for homes to be supported by alternative providers.
“In 2021 we announced a programme of selling homes that we felt would benefit from a different approach from a different operator. We are now completing that process with a group of homes for which we are looking for the right providers who can continue to provide quality care, along with the time and resource investment needed to support the homes to have a bright future over the long-term.
“This will also support us to focus on where we can have the biggest impact as we seek to meet the changing and increasing complex care needs in communities across the UK, through the delivery of high-quality, kind care, and continued investments in our homes and our high-quality workforce – including our recent £32.5 million investment in colleague pay.”
The news of a further nineteen HC-One care homes being sold off has left hundreds of HC-One’s care workers unsure about the future of their roles.
HC-One’s announcement has also been met with alarm and dismay by trade union GMB, many of whose 460,000 members work in social care.
Natalie Grayson, GMB’s National Care Officer, said: “Care workers do a vital role looking after our most vulnerable. They deserve decent pay and job security.
“The company needs to look at all possible options before selling off these homes – putting at risk resident and care worker security alike.
“HC-One has to ensure they’re not putting profit ahead of key workers and vulnerable people.
