A CARE provider in Gloucestershire has lost its contract with Gloucestershire County Council after 14 years of service.

Coverage Care (Gloucestershire) Ltd provided care for older people at 21 homes across the county. But last week the council announced it was handing the contract to The Orders of St John Care Trust, which runs 55 homes in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Lincolnshire.

Council officials have reassured residents they will continue to receive care in the same home and from staff they know.

The change follows a consultation of care home residents, their families and staff on how services could develop. A number of care providers were then asked to submit proposals for the best way forward.

Gloucester-based Coverage Care and The Orders of St John Care Trust were the two short-listed organisations but the latter was preferred by the council because of the strength of its proposals and proven experience in delivering and developing services of this type.

Cllr Mark Hendry, cabinet portfolio-holder for adult care services, said: "I would like to thank Coverage Care for the high quality of care they have delivered to Gloucestershire residents over the last 14 years.

"We will be working with them to ensure a smooth transition when The Orders of St John Care Trust takes over care services at the homes at a date to be agreed with both organisations and the council.

"Everyone at the council is looking forward to working with the trust, building on the services already provided. From our consultation with residents and their families, we know people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Therefore people entering care homes now are much more frail and many may be suffering from dementia."

Cllr Hendry added: "By working with The Orders of St John Care Trust, building new and progressive homes which will cater for people who can no longer stay at home, we can provide services to respond to this increasing need."

Said Cllr Liz Boait, council deputy leader: "We were very impressed by OSJ and their clear command of the direction in which care for older people is going.

They offer many opportunities for Gloucestershire residents both through care and their proposals for the development of the estate. Members who visited their new facility in Oxfordshire were excited by the thinking that went into it."

Tory leader Cllr Barry Dare said the Conservatives welcomed the new contract which would give security of care provision in Gloucestershire for years to come, with an excellent service for older people."

Trust chairman Nigel Stourton said: "We are very pleased to have been selected as a partner by the county council to develop first class care services for older people in Gloucestershire."