Last residents asked to leave ‘fire risk’ care home

Thursday 25 January 2018

The final four residents in a St Helier care home found to have dangerous flammable cladding have been asked to leave by the end of the month.

St Helier House was found to be a fire risk back in September during a review following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June, in which more than 80 people died.

Built in 1963, the Westmount-based home does not contain many standard modern safety features. The home contains no sprinkler system or ‘dry riser’ pipes which help fire-fighters deal with a blaze in a high rise. Many of the home’s residents also have mobility impairments, which presents a difficulty in getting them out quickly should a fire occur. 

It was also found to contain flammable cladding, which had been fitted in the 1990s.

As a result, the Fire Service said that it would not renew the elderly care home’s Fire Safety Certificate unless significant improvements were made for the safety of staff and the home’s 46 residents. Its closure was subsequently announced.

Pictured: Nine residents have moved to St Ewold's home. (Google Maps)

Since then, 42 residents agreed to be rehomed – nine of which moved to St Helier’s other home, St Ewolds.

With just four remaining, the Parish has now made the decision to close the home on 31 January by which time they will have to have to find alternative accommodation.

In a statement, the Parish said that they had reached this conclusion following discussions with the remaining residents, care sector and Social Services professionals.

“It has been decided by those involved that due to the small number of residents remaining the environment is no longer conducive to happy and healthy living and that it would not be in the best interests of the 4 remaining residents to continue to reside there,” it read.

They added that attempts would be made to “redeploy” staff within the Parish, but that voluntary and compulsory redundancies would also be an option.

Staff and their families were informed this morning. 

“The Parish appreciates that this has been a difficult time for St Helier House residents, their families and employees across our homes, and we would like to express our thanks to everyone for the professional way they have conducted themselves during this unsettling period."