Member Article

£3.2m Fenham care home opens creating 30 jobs

Professional care provider Solehawk has opened a new care home in Fenham, Newcastle, following a £3.2m investment which has helped to create 30 new jobs.

Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Linda Wright, was on hand as Ashton Court Care Home welcomed its first residents with more expected to follow in the near future.

The Handa family behind the Solehawk business resided in the property from 1973, which was originally converted into a care home registered for 44 residents in 1986.

Working closely with Newcastle City Council, the Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group within the NHS and the Care Quality Commission, the group took the decision to demolish and completely rebuild the facility to provide a modern, comfortable setting.

Now spanning 2,556 square metres, the brand new care home offers 42 en-suite bedrooms, complete with interactive LCD televisions, three living areas and an in-house hair salon, as well as a social cinema room.

Maggie Scott, Ashton Court Care Home manager, said: “With Ashton Court, we have achieved our aim of a comfortable and contemporary environment from which to provide a 24 hour high quality service.

“Around the clock personalised and compassionate care will be at the heart of our new care home, available for those ready to take the step into residential living.

“We have opportunities available for residents to join us, and would welcome any enquiries.”

Solehawk has its operations headquartered in Newcastle and its current portfolio includes Kenton Hall Nursing Home and Craigielea Community Nursing Home in Low Fell.

Director for care homes at Solehawk, Arvan Handa added: “This project takes us back to our roots – Fenham, which is where the family was born and our business belongs. We wanted to give the very best we could back to the area’s local economy and community.

“Our company ethos is “care you can believe in” as we are confident in the quality of our services, and see the importance of trust when it comes to families enlisting our support in looking after their loved ones.

“Ashton Court is a first class exemplar of this and we are pleased to have marked its arrival, and greatly thank the Lord Mayor of Newcastle for attending our official opening.”