RESIDENTS can remain at a Southend care home after it was saved from closure.

Jewish Care has agreed to sell Raymond House to a family who currently operate two care homes in the town.

The charity announced in May it would close the home in Clifton Terrace affecting 25 residents and more then 30 staff.

Its reasons were dwindling numbers and losses of about £300,000 at the end of the last financial year.

However now the home has been bought by Javed Rashid who has set up a new company to run the home called Raymond House care homes Ltd.

Residents will continue to enjoy all the services and facilities needed to maintain a Jewish lifestyle including the provision of kosher food.

Mr Rashid, who has over 20 years experience in the sector, said: “We are very much looking forward to taking over Raymond House and in doing so we will be expanding our wealth of knowledge to enhance the lives of each and every resident.

“We thrive on looking after the residential and nursing needs of the residents in our current care homes and we felt that this was a good time to expand our excellent practices by purchasing Raymond House.”

However due to the uncertain future a number of residents have left the 38 bed home already.

Jewish Care will continue to operate its other community services in Southend including Southend & Westcliff Jewish Community Centre and social work services for residents of Raymond House, their families and members of the wider Southend Jewish community.

Simon Morris, chief executive of Jewish Care, said: “We are pleased with this outcome and the entire board feel this is the right decision for everyone concerned.

“We will recruit an outreach worker based at Jewish Care’s Southend and Westcliff Community Centre to support the residents and their relatives. We will continue to support the volunteers in the home and provide guidance to the new owner of the home to help develop their understanding of Jewish cultural needs.”