Staff at a care home say they have not been paid and several colleagues have been made redundant.

According to carers from the Weymouth Manor Care Home on Radipole Lane, members of staff have not received payment from their work in May.

The payment should have been received on Wednesday, June 5 but according to staff, up to 17 people had not been paid on time, or have been underpaid. 

Staff also claim there have been 11 redundancies and cuts to services.

However, the company's CEO said the business was in robust financial health.

One member of staff said:  “Many staff members have not been paid at all for their work. Others underpaid.

“I started at the care home last year working nights, and when the company stopped employing agency workers there were four members on night staff for more than 40 people.

“There have been 11 redundancies and then this month, anyone that has handed in their notice, or was working through their notice have not been paid.

"I was underpaid almost £700 from last month which is a large part of my pay. They fobbed us off and said we will receive it next month because of a system change - but this is too much money to be relaxed about.

“It has really left me scrambling. I can’t stop crying - I don’t know what to do and feel like a terrible mother to my two-year old child as I can’t pay my bills.

“They’ve blocked our emails and I’m scared I will never see the money.”

The carer feels as though staff have 'been left in the dark'.

She added: "I cannot afford to put food on the table without having to borrow money. Now we are not being paid and the owners refuse to talk to staff and we have been left in the dark.

“I have worked in care for seven years, and this is the worst experience I have had.”

Weymouth Manor Care Home (Image: Hollie Carr) Another concerned member of staff said: “It was a great place to work before the owners replaced the managers and deputy, cutting all costs. We had 10 DTA (discharge to assess) beds that were lost in the cuts.

“Last month we had an email regarding overtime, and that the month is in arrears.”

A former member of staff who recently quit their job at the home, said: “Making people redundant was the start of it and there has just been panic, panic, panic which means more members of staff have left meaning we were short staffed. After the deputy manager was made redundant, I decided to leave myself.

“I feel sorry for the residents as the fees have increased to between 10 to 12 per cent over the past year and they aren’t seeing any extras for that increase. They have been lobbying for a minibus now for over a year to take them out and that's not happened.

“I’ve worked in care for 14 years and had a real passion for it, but after the experiences I have had, I am never working in care again. I still don’t have words for it. I’ve never walked out on a job before but I did not feel safe or secure there.”

A member of staff who was made redundant three weeks ago, said: “Staff put their hearts and soul into the home.

“It’s soul destroying and heart breaking. The cuts to services have had a knock on effect to residents as we cannot provide the same quality of care with less staff in place.

“We all have bills to pay too and it has really affected many people's mental health."

The home is operated by Chanctonbury Healthcare, which owns a number of care homes across the country. 

Barry Sinclair, owner of Chanctonbury Healthcare, said in a statement to the Echo: "Chanctonbury Healthcare Weymouth is stronger than ever and operates with no debt.

"Our financial position is robust, reflecting the sound management practices and strategic planning we have consistently employed. This stability allows us to continue our mission of providing exceptional healthcare services to the community of Weymouth and beyond.

"At Chanctonbury Healthcare, we believe that efficiency and quality go hand in hand. Our efforts to streamline operations and enhance efficiency are designed to ensure that we can sustain our high standards of care while adapting to the ever-changing healthcare landscape.

"These efforts include optimizing our processes, adopting new technologies, and implementing best practices across all our facilities. While these initiatives may result in temporary disruptions, they are essential to our long-term strategy of providing sustainable, high-quality care.

"In conclusion, Chanctonbury Healthcare Weymouth is financially sound, debt-free, and deeply committed to both operational excellence and the highest standards of patient care.

"We remain dedicated to serving the Weymouth community with integrity, compassion, and excellence. Our vision for the future is one of continued innovation, growth, and positive impact. We appreciate the trust and support of our community and look forward to many more years of serving you with the best in healthcare services."

Following the Echo's enquiries, some members of staff said they have since been paid, whilst others say they have not been paid.