A £7 million transformation that’s creating 60 new jobs has just been completed at a care home that came within 48 hours of closure.
The Caron Group, which also operates 16 other care homes across South Wales, came to the rescue with a dramatic last-minute intervention when the former Ely Court Care Home in St Fagan’s, near Cardiff, was on the verge of closure.
Before they stepped in the home’s future had been under threat because of fears over the safety of the 32 vulnerable residents under the old regime.
Industry champions Care Forum Wales say Caron Group’s actions at the 50-bed home “saved lives” because some of the residents would have been unable to cope with moving to a new home which would have had a “devastating outcome”.
The home has now been rebranded as The Court Care Home with the huge investment said to be adding a “new level of luxury”.
According to the Caron Group, it’s now the only care home in Wales with air conditioning in every bedroom.
In the process 40 existing jobs have been saved, 35 new ones have been created and a further 25 staff will be taken on when the recently modernised rooms are opened.
Work at the historic listed building, once owned by the aristocratic Llewellyn family, has also included a new landscaped garden which was completed this summer.
The garden has just been officially opened by former First Minister Mark Drakeford, the home’s local Senedd member, who praised the investment by the Caron Group.
Prof Drakeford said: “I was very pleased to visit The Court again and to see the wonderful work which has been carried out there.
“The investment made by the Caron Group has not only restored a landmark building to its former glory, it has provided a high standard of care to residents.
“The direct involvement of public services show how, through a genuine sense of partnership, so much can be achieved.”
The company was also commended by Mario Kreft MBE, chair Care Forum Wales, who said: “Without a shadow of doubt, lives were saved back in 2017 when the Caron Group rescued the home and prevent the need for residents to be moved.
“And the transformation of the site over the last eight years is nothing short of remarkable.”
Caron Group chair Sanjiv Joshi described the eight-year project as a “labour of love” and said he firmly believes the company’s decision to ride to the rescue of the home had saved lives.
He said: “This home was literally 48 hours away from being shut down because of quality issues. It was literally at the cliff edge of closure.
“There were 32 residents about to be moved out on the Monday morning.
“We stepped in on the Friday before that and committed to the home by the Monday, which stopped the closure of the home.
“There was going to be an order from the magistrates court to shut it down, social services were already talking to the families and would be turning up and moving all the residents out because the home was considered so unsafe.
“There had been lots of incidents over many years and it had culminated in a decision by the authorities that it was too dangerous for the residents.
“We stepped in on that Monday and we saved the lives of some of the residents because residents when they are moved, whatever the condition they are in, don’t travel well.
“We took over the home several months later but we actually put management in even before we took the home over to guide the existing staff so we didn’t have any high risk incidents.
“There had been a very high risk incident, somebody nearly died, the week before we stepped in the home. We were also fortunate that we were well supported by Care Inspectorate Wales, Cardiff Council and the health board
“We have taken it from there to now a home which is of excellent quality, serving the community at the luxury end.
“We have got some incredible staff and our incredible manager Becci Roberts has been there from day one, she is the star of this.
“She has led the staff and made sure the quality of care is excellent but also in a sense worked on a building site because we did all this work while the home was running.”
Becci Roberts joined the Caron Group, fortuitously, about the time of the threatened closure and has led the care team through the transformation of the home.
Becci said: “We know that when people move, that often triggers a decline in their health, particularly if they have a cognitive decline.
“Some of the residents were the most vulnerable nursing residents.
“Some were very frail and causing us a lot of concern.
“I am very proud of how our team cared for them and improved their lives.”
Originally built in 1907 and located near St Fagans Castle, The Court was purchased by Sir David Llewellyn of Aberdare and his wife Madge Llewellyn in 1922.
Letters from their daughter, Magdalena Llewellyn, to renowned landscape designer Gertrude Jekyll offered a detailed picture of the estate’s original garden layout.
Caron Group’s design team took inspiration from this rich history and the original correspondence when planning the home’s refurbishment.
Mr Joshi said: “It used to be called Ely Court, we changed the name to reflect the original name which was The Court.
“It took us a year-and-a-half to get the garden built.
“The garden is the centrepiece, but we have done some incredible stuff within the home because it is an old building.
“It has been a complete transformation; we literally went back to the walls.
“Every room is now en-suite with a walk-in shower.
“And I don’t think there is another home in Wales which has air conditioning in bedrooms.
“We are still doing more work.
“We are now restoring the original lounges on the ground floor and we are opening another three bedrooms but the rest of the home is all done.
“It has been a labour of love, it has taken us eight years and it has been an incredible journey.”
