Hft Sussex: Families devastated by special needs care home closure

Hft Sussex is closing in just under three months due to financial concerns which has seen it more than a million pounds under what it expected in the last year.

Families of people in the residential living care home said they are “so angry and upset” to see loved ones turfed out of their home.

The residential living care home supports 23 people in Walberton.

Hft Sussex in Walberton residential care home (Image: Supplied)

One family member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’m devastated as a parent. My child is very settled there, it will take a long time for them to come around to the idea and we are going to have to transition them to somewhere else. They are very settled, it’s their home.

“My child was in and out of placements for a few years but we found the right place here.

“There is someone in their 70s who has been there since they were 19. It’s their home, what they know and what they are familiar with. They can walk around the property and see friends and people they have known for years.

“The biggest travesty for me was there was no consultation, just a phone call to tell me it was closing and a letter a few days later.

“There is nowhere, there’s about 200 people looking for placements in West Sussex.

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“It just seems mad to do that when other places have turned it around completely.

“I don’t think it's necessary, Hft Wiltshire did the same thing and gave them six months’ notice. The residents challenged it in court and they looked for a buyer and got one.

“I think they should approach the providers that did Wiltshire and look at getting a one in.”

Last month, families in Hft Wiltshire saved it from closure after the charity announced intentions to pull out in 2020 after a public row with Wiltshire Council over funding arrangements.

They started a campaign to keep the supported living bungalows and another charity Specialised Supported Housing took over.

When asked if there was any possibility of saving the Walberton care home or finding a new provider, Hft said that it was a decision for West Sussex County Council to look into.

Peter Snelling, chief care and support officer at Hft described the decision as a “last resort” and said that “unsustainable financial loss” puts the organisation's ability to allow adults to “live their best life” in jeopardy.

The care home has looked after some people for more than 50 years (Image: Supplied)

He said: “The Walberton site has unique challenges but we have worked closely with the host local authority, to look at ways in which we could make the service financially viable including an enhanced level of pay for the support workers and putting in place a dedicated service turnaround team.

"However, we finally reached the point where we could no longer guarantee our ability to provide high-quality support to the people in our care in a setting that appropriately meets their changing needs in an affordable manner.

"Unfortunately, the scale of the financial losses and the options available meant that there was no choice but to serve three months’ notice in line with our contractual obligations.”

West Sussex County Council said the decision to close the Walberton site was made by Hft, not the council. 

A spokesman said: “The health and wellbeing of people in West Sussex remains our top priority. We are actively working with residents, their families and other commissioning authorities to find suitable alternative arrangements for those affected.”

Families said they were disappointed after claiming they did not receive a response from Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith.

Mr Griffith told The Argus: “I absolutely understand the difficulties facing the residents and families of the Home Farm Trust Care Home in Walberton.

"While I understand that West Sussex County Council are working hard to deliver alternative arrangements for residents, relocation may not be a straightforward process for those with specific and complex needs.

“The council will continue to work closely with the residents’ families to assist them throughout this process during the next three months and I will offer my practical support to families who are facing immediate challenges.”

A petition has been started on Change.org calling to save Hft Sussex.