THE futures of staff and residents at four care homes thrown into jeopardy by the collapse of operator Southern Cross have been secured.

Henwick Grange in Hallow Road, Worcester, Red Hill Court in London Road, Worcester, Ravenstone in Droitwich and Bryden House in Kidderminster have now been officially taken over by new operators.

Orchard Care Homes will run Ravenstone and Bryden House, Bondcare has assumed responsibility for Henwick Grange and Red Hill Court is now under the management of Shaw Healthcare.

Meanwhile, the takeover of Pitchill House in Salford Priors, near Evesham, and Bowood Mews and Bowood Court in Redditch, is due for completion on November 1.

The homes will be run by a new company, HC-1, created by operators Court Cavendish and property owners NHP.

Paul Mancey, chief executive of Orchard Care Homes – which is taking over the management of 44 former Southern Cross homes – said the firm was delighted to be welcoming staff and residents at Ravenstone and Bryden House on board.

He said: “Continuity of care remains our priority. We have a dedicated team working towards a smooth transition who have been engaged with representatives of Southern Cross, the landlords and individual home managers for the past few months. We have been working with regulatory bodies, including the Care Quality Commission.”

A statement from Shaw Healthcare said it was committed to a seamless transfer of services and ensuring continuity of care for all residents.

A spokesman for Bondcare said residents, families and staff could be reassured that the hand-over of Henwick Grange would be done in a professional manner and standards of care would not be compromised in any way.

Once Britain’s largest care home operator, Southern Cross has all but collapsed because of rising rent bills and lower occupancy rates.

It was ordered to return control of of its 755 homes, which house 31,000 elderly and vulnerable people and employ 42,500 staff, to their landlords, who were told to find a new operator.