A CARE provider says it will be working with residents and staff to offer support after it was announced a Weymouth care home will be closing its doors.

Care South says its Mount Pleasant care home in Mount Pleasant Avenue South, a purpose-built residential and dementia care home, is to close due to "changing needs and increased market expectations".

The company is working with Dorset County Council to relocate the 25 residents and is also investigating whether the 45 staff can be employed elsewhere in the business.

A Care South spokesman confirmed that Mount Pleasant care home, a Care South home since 1991, will soon be closing.

The spokesman said: “The lease that Care South held with Dorset County Council will shortly come to an end and Mount Pleasant will be passed back to DCC, which will decide what will happen to the building next.

"Care South and DCC have been working closely together and have jointly concluded that the home should close due to changing needs and increased market expectations.”

The spokesman added: “The lease expires at the beginning of next year. We have taken the decision to begin to close the home now, so that we have plenty of time to ensure our residents find new homes and our staff can find new jobs – either with Care South or elsewhere. Our paramount concern is for the wellbeing of the residents and staff.

“There are 45 members of staff at Mount Pleasant. We are holding consultations to ensure the staff at Mount Pleasant are fully supported and to see if we can find alternative jobs for them within Care South. It is too early in the process to comment any further on this.”

The county council said it will be working with families to discuss options for care.

DCC owns the property and leases it to Care South.

A spokesman said: “They have asked us to end the lease and we have accepted that.”

Alison Waller, head of partnerships and performance at DCC, said: "We are aware of Care South's decision to close the Mount Pleasant home in Weymouth. We will be supporting families and residents to look for alternative accommodation."

In summer last year the home’s lounge underwent extensive renovation.

The staff have also won a host of awards. Earlier this year staff member Joe Heath won the Best Care Newcomer award at Care South’s annual Star Awards and last year the kitchen staff won the Best Care Support Services award, in recognition of their commitment to the wellbeing of the home’s residents.