We are delighted to announce that Agincare is the new operator of Tower Bridge Care Home, following a selection process by Southwark Council which also involved residents’ loved ones and team members.
As a leading independent care provider with over 35 years of experience in delivering high-quality care in the community, yet remaining family-owned, we have a strong awareness of the issues for people during such changes, with numerous transfers being managed from local authorities, charities, and independent providers.
We already possesses a strong and successful partnership with Southwark Council, after being appointed to deliver high-quality, personalised care at four care homes in the borough, Bluegrove House, Greenhive, Rose Court and Waterside, in May 2023.
We have worked closely with Southwark Council and the outgoing operator to ensure there is a smooth transition at the home, which supports up to 122 people at any one time. This has seen staff contracts transferring to Agincare so that jobs are protected and residents continue to be supported by the people they know and trust.
Agincare Group Chief Executive Raina Summerson said::
Agincare is excited to welcome Tower Bridge Care Home into our family of care and nursing homes. Our top priority is ensuring that the transfer happens as smoothly as possible, whilst building positive relationships with residents, their loved ones and the care team.
We’re pleased to further develop our strong working relationship with Southwark Council, and bring Agincare’s skills and expertise to the future service provision at Tower Bridge Care Home alongside the four other homes we already successfully operate in the borough.
Southwark Council became the new owners of Tower Bridge Care Home in February 2024 in a move to maintain and improve care home capacity in the borough, particularly nursing care for older Southwark residents with the most complex conditions.
Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Southwark Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
We are delighted to welcome Agincare as the new care provider at Tower Bridge Care Home. Agincare have shown they are committed to improving the lives of everyone who live and work in their care homes. We are excited to be working together to enable Tower Bridge Care Home to thrive long term for the benefit of residents, their loved ones, and staff.
The latest announcement follows success of the Avon Unit at Waterside Care Home which was developed last year to provide nursing care, discharge to assess and reablement services. It has made a positive impact on delayed hospital discharges, with over 80% of people admitted to the unit returning home without the need for additional ongoing support.
The Tower Bridge appointment coincides with the council’s ‘year of the carer’ which celebrates Southwark’s carers and ensures they get the support they need. Agincare were among the first care providers to sign up to the council’s residential care charter, which aims to drive up standards for both staff and residents in care homes (pictured below).
(Pictured left: Agincare Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst (left), Southwark Council Director of Adult Social Care Pauline O’Hare, Councillor Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Southwark Council Director of Integrated Commissioning Genette Laws, and Agincare Group Chief Executive Raina Summerson.)
In July, Debbie Sanusi from Agincare’s Bluegrove Care Home won the care home worker category at the first-ever Southwark Care Awards in recognition of her outstanding service in the care industry across 26 years.
Leading independent care provider Agincare was started from a single care home in Weymouth in 1986 by Derek Luckhurst and remains family-owned, delivering high quality care in over 90 locations nationwide.
In addition to Tower Bridge Care Home, Agincare operates Greenhive Care Home and Waterside Care Home, both in Peckham plus Rose Court Care Home in Rotherhithe and Bluegrove House Care Home in Bermondsey.
Find out more about Agincare care and nursing homes, and retirement villages.