A YATE nursing home rated ‘inadequate’ is set to close.

The director of Willow Cottage Nursing Home admits to failings there, but says a lack of support to get the service back on track has left him with no option but to shut.

The announcement comes just months after the care watchdog found a string of failings at the Station Road home.

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in January found safety, leadership and effectiveness at the home were ‘inadequate’.

It did however, refer positively to the way people were treated at the home, with residents reporting 'they were treated in a kind and caring manner'. 

January's inspection followed a report in March 2017, where the verdict was ‘requires improvement’. A deterioration in practice in the intervening months was noted.

The CQC put the home into special measures, allowing it six months to improve, but director Satbir Singh Ahluwalia announced that it would be closing instead.

Residents were given a month to find somewhere new to go, with the service winding down on April 9.

Mr Ahluwalia has cited financial difficulties brought on by sanctions put in place by the CQC and South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) as the reason for the closure.

“It would have been better if they had supported us while we tried to improve the home,” he said. 

“I don’t want to have to close Willow Cottage, but with no new service users being referred to us, we are well below capacity and the business is no longer viable.”

Of the 34 places at the home, only 14 are currently occupied.

But an SGC spokeswoman said that they had stopped making placements at the home just days before its closure was announced.

She said: “We have a duty to make sure people living in nursing and residential homes receive care which supports their safety and wellbeing.

"Following the concerns raised at Willow Cottage, the council took the decision that no new placements would be made to this home on March 7. 

"We have already started the process of reviewing the needs of the three people we fund at this home and finding them alternative accommodation and care as quickly as possible remains our primary concern. 

“We know this will be an unsettling time for all of the residents and their families, and we will work closely with them and our NHS partners to provide advice and support.”

Yate Town councillor Chris Willmore said: “We are very worried about the loss of places in nursing homes locally and the impact of the closure on residents and their families.”

Mr Ahluwalia reiterated that he does not want to close the home, adding: “This is something I will have sleepless nights over.

"I would not like to be in the position of having to move my own parents.”