Amid a Coronavirus crisis in our care system, GMB Union calls for guarantees on future for staff at Corby’s Willow Brook House Care Home.
The closure of Willow Brook House is threatened as a result of Larchwood Care’s sale of the care home building to St Matthews Health care who, it is understood, are demanding vacant possession of the building as a term of sale.
If the plan goes ahead as it stands, it will risk over 30 care jobs in Corby as well and force 35 elderly residents into a disruptive process of seeking alternative care provision.
GMB union is calling on the seller and new owner to review the terms of sale, including guarantees on care worker’s employment, terms, conditions and representation.
Rachelle Wilkins, GMB Midland & East Coast Region said:
"This is a completely avoidable level of disruption to a care home that is at the heart of the community in Corby.
We’re calling on both Larchwood Care and St Matthews Health care to get around the table and review the terms of sale, ensuring jobs, terms, conditions and representation are safeguarded in the process. It’s not good enough to turn the entire home on its head, without guarantees for the hard working staff that do so much to support local people.
We speak for the community in Corby when we say, our care workers have earned the applause and respect of the entire country for their handling of the Coronavirus crisis, it’s only right that we stand up for them now”.
