Green Lane residential home in Addlestone to close later this year | News centre

Green Lane residential home in Addlestone to close

Plans in place for ongoing support for residents and staff

Following a review of challenges facing the Green Lane residential home in Addlestone, regrettably a decision has been made to close the service.

The service, run by Together for Mental Wellbeing and jointly commissioned by Surrey Health and Care Partnership and Surrey County Council, cares for people with mental health conditions.

This difficult decision was reached based on the following points and with the long-term wellbeing of residents as our top priority.

• Difficulty in recruiting a full team impacting the support and care offered
• The layout of the ageing building has significant limitations and there is no viable way of mitigating this
• The financial pressures of running the service without a full permanent staff team are not sustainable

Our priority is to minimise any distress caused to residents by securing a long-term solution where they can settle into a new home that is better equipped to give them the individual care they need.

Commissioners at Surrey Health and Care Partnership and Surrey County Council are working with Together for Mental Wellbeing to assess each resident’s current needs and find suitable alternative accommodation. Our aim is for all residents to be relocated within Surrey to ensure they can maintain any existing contact with their family and friends with minimal disruption.

Residents and their families are being supported by experienced staff who will provide ongoing support and reassurance throughout the transition.

Staff are being supported by Together for Mental Wellbeing, where possible, to find suitable alternative employment in the local area.

All residents will continue to receive the care they need before, during and after the transition to their new accommodation, which we expect to be complete by the end of September 2022.

Your questions answered

What is happening?

• Green Lane accommodation service provides residential care to 13 adults with mental health conditions. Due to ageing accommodation, limits on options to modernise the premises and ongoing challenges with staff recruitment, the service is regrettably closing in Autumn 2022.
• We are sorry for the impact this may have on residents, their loved ones and service staff. This has been a very difficult decision, arrived at with the long-term wellbeing of residents as our top priority.

Why is the service closing?

• The condition of the premises, limited potential to renovate the site and difficulties recruiting staff means it is no longer possible to provide the high level of care residents deserve.
• Health and care authorities undertook a review of the service and opportunities to resolve the challenges it faces. This included assessing whether the service could change from a residential to supported living model. However, the diverse and complex support that needs to be provided means this is not a viable option.
• Commissioners are committed to working with providers across Surrey to make sure that people with complex needs are supported in buildings which can best meet their needs and promote their recovery and growing independence.

What will happen to the residents?

• Our priority is to minimise any distress caused for residents by securing a long-term solution where they can settle into a new home that is better equipped to give them the individual care they need.
• Work is already underway to assess each resident’s current needs and find suitable alternative accommodation. Our aim is for all residents to be relocated within Surrey to ensure they can maintain any existing contact with their family and friends with minimal disruption.
• Residents and their families are being supported by experienced staff and advocates who understand their individual situations and can provide ongoing support and reassurance throughout the transition.

What will happen to the staff?

• Together for Mental Wellbeing are consulting with the affected staff, providing HR and wellbeing support and offering alternative employment options in the nearby area where possible.

Who has made this decision?

• Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership and Surrey County Council commission the service and care is provided by leading UK mental health charity, Together for Mental Wellbeing. The decision was taken in the best interests of residents and prioritising their long-term safety, health and wellbeing and was made by Together with the support of commissioners.

Will residents be able to choose where they are relocated to?

• Safe, high quality care that meets each individual’s needs will be our priority and we will endeavour to meet personal preferences wherever possible.

What will happen to the building?

• Once all residents have been relocated, we will explore options for how best to utilise the Green Lane site to benefit local people.

When will the home close?

• The service will continue to support residents for as long as is needed for a smooth transition to their new accommodation, which we aim to complete by the end of September 2022.