Jobs saved at Stevenston-based Assist Homecare after liquidation

Assist Homecare (Scotland) Ltd, which was based in Stevenston and provided support to 43 residents across the region, collapsed last week amid mounting debts owed to HM Revenue and Customs.

The most recent accounts, published by Companies House in November 2021, show that Assist Homecare owed £331,327 to creditors in the year up to March 31, 2020.

A further £184,194 was outstanding from the previous 12 months, adding up to a total debt of more than £515,000.

Employees of the firm were informed on Friday (July 29) that their contracts would be terminated with immediate effect, raising serious concerns for the welfare of service users and staff.

READ MORE: Stevenston-based care at home company placed into liquidation with £500k debts

However, North Ayrshire Council has now stepped in to offer positions to 37 care staff after liquidators were appointed.

North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) told earlier this week that they were working closely with the firm "to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those previously cared for by Assist Homecare, as well as supporting the employment and financial security of the workforce".

All 37 of the company’s care staff have now accepted contracts with the council, with all services to Assist’s former clients being provided by the HSCP from Thursday, August 4.

Councillor Margaret Johnson, cabinet member for health and social care at North Ayrshire Council, said: “This has been an extremely distressing time for service users and staff of Assist Homecare.

"Our priority over these past few days has been to ensure the care needs of their service users continued to be met, while supporting staff and working towards a longer-term solution.

“We are delighted that there has been a positive outcome to this situation in being able to offer contracts to all of Assist’s care staff, who will now continue to provide high-quality support to North Ayrshire residents via our in-house care team.”