A care home in Spalding is to close next month with the loss of 17 jobs and the displacement of nine residents.
The owner of Grenoble Rest Home, in Cowbit Road, blames burgeoning government policy for her decision to shut the home on July 21 and take retirement at the age of 46.
Sarah Corlett said: “It’s been a very tough decision to take but working in the health and social care sector is not what it was.
“There are now too many stresses and strains of dealing with all sorts of people – a lot of red tape.”
Mrs Corlett, who runs the home with ex-husband Christopher Dunmore, paid tribute to the 17 full and part-time staff who have been given redundancy notices.
“They’re a brilliant, brilliant group of people,” she said. “They have all worked incredibly hard for me and their reaction (to the news) was very, very supportive.”
Lincolnshire County Council and the families of residents have been given notice of the closure.
Mrs Corlett said she had heard nothing from the county council yet but families had been “incredibly understanding” and she would be helping them to find alternative accommodation.
News of the closure was relayed to the carers, cleaners and cooks during a meeting on Monday.
One longtime member of staff told The Voice that news of the closure came as a complete shock.
He said: “We had no idea at all.
“My first thought was ‘why is this happening to us?’
“I’d always assumed the company was profitable.
“I’ve been there 18 years and some of the workers have been there longer than me.
“I feel sorry for those with kids. I’ve had a quick look through the paper today and there are no jobs for this type of work.”
Mrs Corlett’s parents Harold and Kit Rushby established Grenoble Rest Home 30 years ago. It’s registered for 13 residents.
Mrs Corlett, who has been manager for 28 years, said the property would be put on the market soon.
The limited company’s other property – Birchwood Retirement Home in Grantham – remains unaffected.
