Large landlord moves away from care services to focus on housing

The housing association said the group board made the “tough decision to exit amid the squeezed margins involved in delivering frontline services”. 

It said it has worked closely with councils in Reading, Spelthorne and Woking to ensure a “smooth transition” of its care provision. 

Tenders were transferred to new providers at the end of the contract. 

All 65 affected A2Dominion staff were protected under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) rights – the law that protects employees, and their benefits, when their employment changes hands.

The G15 member said that as the business changes, it will appoint a new director to lead its specialist housing team, with the existing post-holder, Jo Evans, moving to become A2Dominion’s first director of repairs and maintenance.

Michael Reece, chief property officer at A2Dominion, said: “We’d like to thank all our colleagues, partners and everyone else involved in helping us to deliver high-quality care services to our customers over many years.  

“It was not a decision we took lightly and as a housing association with a social purpose, we remain committed to helping those in vulnerable circumstances in any way we can, including through retirement living, our supported services and community investment programmes.  

“Looking ahead, our core focus remains unchanged and we will continue to work hard to deliver for all our customers and provide homes people love to live in.” 

In September, A2Dominion reported a net deficit of £12.8m for the last financial year, after more than £32m in impairments and write-downs.

The reported deficit by the G15 landlord came just days after the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) placed the association on its gradings under review list.

The RSH said A2Dominion, which currently holds a V2 viability grading and a G1 governance grading, could be downgraded to a non-compliant grade following an investigation.