Automotive workers support charity Ben has announced plans to transfer its care services to new operators following a strategic review process.
According to its accounts ending March 2022, the charity operates three care homes, two sheltered housing sites, a day centre, and a retirement village community. It has 188 beds in its care homes overall and said that employees and residents have been informed of the plans.
Ben has 220 employees working in the care of residents and 38 working in its retirement village. A spokesperson from the charity told Civil Society that it hopes all staff will transfer with the services.
Its financial accounts ending March 2022 saw a total income of £16.5m against expenditure of £17.6m.
The cost of providing care in its care homes amounted to £11.1m, 65% of its expenditure for the financial year.
In a statement, the charity said it would be working to increase its health and wellbeing services instead as demand for them increases.
Ben said it had experienced an increase in service demand since 2018, managing 300% more inquiries through its confidential helpline and 200% more individuals through its support and specialist services.
Currently, its care services remain unchanged. Transferring the services will be the charity’s priority over the next five to 10 years, the charity said.
CEO: ‘Committed to achieving a seamless transfer’
Zara Ross, Ben’s chief executive, said: “After very careful consideration, the board, supported by Ben’s executive team, has unanimously concluded that now is the right time to recommend the transfer of these services to the stewardship of new operators.
“We believe this will ensure that these services and our employees working in them have the very best opportunity to continue to flourish, develop and thrive going forward.
“We recognise this strategic decision will represent a considerable change for our current operations.
“Our primary consideration over the forthcoming period is therefore to ensure the continuity and quality of all of our services for everyone affected, especially all our service users and their family members, as well as Ben employees.
“We are committed to achieving a seamless transfer of our services at the appropriate time, but currently, our services remain unchanged.
“Ben will now commence the process of finding new operators for each of our care and village services.
“We have met with our service users and employees on all sites, to ensure that the interests of every individual affected are understood in our decision-making.
“Over the forthcoming period we will continue to provide updates as we take these changes forward.”
