Buyer swoops in to save Northumberland care home residents from clutches of closure

A local care home and its residents have been saved from the clutches of closure.

Vital Care Services is the new owners of the former struggling Baedling Manor near Blyth and arrived just at the moment where over 100 residents and carers feared they might have to seek new pastures.

The home has also received a new name for its new chapter, now known as Birkinshaw Manor as a nod to John Birkinshaw.

Birkinshaw was one of the area’s most famous residents as he invented the wrought iron rails which were used on the Stockton to Darlington railway line – the first in the world.

Director Geetika Malhotra has spoken of her delight at being able to save the home.

She said: “We are delighted to have secured this home and to have been able to protect important services for the local community, while safeguarding over 50 local jobs."

Ms Malhotra is a trainee lawyer, but no stranger to the care business with her family working in the industry across the North East for more than 35 years.

She added: "I have seen my father, Bunty Malhotra, develop care homes since I was a child and I am very excited to now be able to follow in his footsteps but operate independently."

Nicola Undeldorf, the registered manager for Birkinshaw Manor said that everyone “had worked very hard to make improvements in recent months as a team.”

She continued: “We are very pleased with the new vision and structure now in place as it is already making such a difference to staff morale and care delivery.

"Geetika has been taken onboard staff suggestions and is now also planning meetings with residents, their families and stakeholders.

“It’s very important to me that service users and staff feel that their opinions matter and that we can all work as a team to achieve the best outcome for our residents."