Council care home closure is fourth in a year

Norse Care said Linden Court residents would be found new homes in the coming months

A publicly-owned care company is due to close its fourth residential home in the space of about a year.

Services will cease at Linden Court in Watton, Norfolk, in April.

Two other homes run by Norse Care, which is owned by the county council, closed in September and December, and a third closed in Bungay, Suffolk, in January 2024.

Norse Care said changes to fire regulations, rising social care costs and the need for "substantial investment" meant Linden Court could no longer provide suitable care.

According to a Care Quality Commission report published in 2019, Linden Court cares for up to 50 people aged 65 and over.

Senior director of care at the company, Jo Huxtable, said it aimed to relocate and settle all the residents in the next few months, and was "committed" to providing staff with "support and opportunities".

"Closing the home is a deeply difficult decision, but the well-being and safety of our residents remain our highest priority," she added.

"We are working closely with residents and their families to ensure everyone finds a new home that meets their needs."

'Minimise disruption'

The company runs 32 homes in Norfolk and is the largest care provider in the county.

Ms Thomas said the local authority would assess future uses for the site once the handover had been completed, with the potential for Linden Court to become independent living accommodation.

Alison Thomas, the Conservative cabinet member for adult social services, said: "We understand Norse Care's decision to close Linden Court, based on a wide range of factors, and will work closely with them and everyone involved to minimise any disruption for those involved."