24 Sep New Chigwell care home to boost provision of beds in face of substantial losses in Essex
A new care home opening in Chigwell will offer much-needed places for older people in the county which has seen a loss of more than 500 care home beds.
Lambwood Heights on Lambourne Road will provide residential, nursing, memory and respite care for up to 73 residents when it opens in December. It will also create around 100 jobs once the home is fully occupied. The purpose-built care home is the newest addition to family-run Oakland Care’s portfolio which includes Woodland Grove in Loughton and two homes on the East Sussex coast.
According to recent figures* care home closures in 2018 saw a net loss of 532 beds in the county council area of Essex. Chigwell’s neighbouring local authority, Waltham Forest, lost a staggering 25% of its available beds during the same period. CEO of Oakland Care, Joanne Balmer, said;
“The demand for care is increasing yet the number of homes in this part of the UK is falling. We’ve seen the situation start to turn around in the first quarter of 2019 but there is some way to go yet to redress the balance. Lambwood Heights will add to local supply and offer a home-from-home with high standards of care for older people with a full range of needs.”
The home opens its marketing suite on the 7th October when communal areas will be ready to view as well as some of the bedrooms. The home will offer residents private en-suite facilities, a cinema, library, hair and beauty salon and a courtyard garden overlooking the protected woodland that surrounds the home.
The home will create 100 jobs across a number of roles including care, nursing, administration, catering, laundry and maintenance. Lambwood Heights will also support apprenticeships and work placements. Home manager, Sonia Kasese, is looking forward to building relationships with the local community.
“When our residents move in, they will still be part of their local community so their friends and families will always be welcome. We’ll also be opening our doors to community groups, entertainers, schoolchildren and local health professionals.”
