RESIDENTS at Goldenley Care Home in Chippenham have until Christmas Eve to find a new place to live after the director of the home made a shock decision to close it.

Satbir Singh Ahluwalia decided to close the home, which was graded as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and put into special measures two months ago, on Monday citing financial difficulties brought on by sanctions from the CQC and Wiltshire Council.

"We put the action plans required in place but because we were under embargo we were not able to accept any new clients, and as our customers who were receiving end of life care died, the amount of care we were providing declined," he said.

"I had to take the difficult decision to close the home because I didn't want the quality of care to decline for those still in the home and we will continue to provide that care until the last moment.

"I will however be fighting against Wiltshire Council's decision to place us under embargo even though we were able to show that the action plans were in place. If my business was so bad why didn't they remove the current clients from the home?

"Wiltshire Police also failed to deal with an unsubstantiated allegation about one of my staff members and as a result we could not be taken off the safeguarding risk list.

"Chippenham has lost a home and my plans to extend it and all the opportunities that came with it. They have also lost a provision for the elderly in the community. I am angry about it because Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police failed to make quick decisions."

Mr Ahluwalia is now working with the CQC and Wiltshire Council and West Berkshire Council to help find his residents new homes across before the 28 day period comes to an end.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman added: “The council has a duty to make sure people living in care homes receive care which supports their safety and wellbeing and will take steps where necessary to ensure this is the case.

"Our primary concern is the well-being of those living in the home, and ensuring they get suitable alternative accommodation and care as quickly as possible.

“We know this will be an unsettling time for residents and their families and are working with our partner organisations to provide advice and support to those affected. Once alternative accommodation has been identified, residents will be supported with moves to ensure a smooth transition to their new homes.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "We are currently investigating an allegation in relation to a member of staff at the care home and the manager has been kept updated with the progress of this investigation.

"This is a complex investigation due to the potential number of victims and witnesses and, as a result, has taken some time for us to carry our the most thorough enquiries.

"The investigation is now in its final stages and the manager was made aware of this at a recent multi-agency meeting."

Is one of your relatives affected by the closure or are you a member of staff facing redundancy? Contact Jessica Wells on 01225 773645 or jwells@newswilts.co.uk