PEOPLE with learning disabilities living in supported housing could be evicted — with seven days' notice.

The Isle of Wight Council said today (Thursday) it believed 12 Ryde House residents may be given notice to leave.

Ryde House is run by a private provider, the Ryde House Group, but the council provides funding for residents' care and support.

The company has given 14 days' notice to the council — stating its intention to give seven days' notice to the residents' families.

Offering support and reassurance to those families, the council said it had been trying to contact them to explain the situation and find out what action was being taken on their behalf.

A spokesperson said: “We have been involved in ongoing discussions with Ryde House to try to resolve issues surrounding the contract between us for a number of residents.

"These discussions are continuing and, while they are taking place, there has been no change in the care and support or the fees paid.

"We remain fully committed to these discussions and are very surprised and extremely concerned to have received the intention to serve notice with no prior indication.

"In our view, the talks are still very active and we are working in good faith to resolve the issues and ensure the future health and care of the residents.

“Our absolute priority remains the long-term welfare and stability of these residents and we will be doing all we can on their behalf, together with ensuring that their care and support needs continue to be met.

“We have been endeavouring to personally contact the families to explain developments, and are also notifying the Care Quality Commission of developments.”

A spokesperson for the Ryde House Group confirmed it had been involved in negotiations with the council and would release a statement in due course.

UPDATE: Ryde House Group has issued the following statement through their solicitors. 

"The local authority has assessed the care needs of the people affected as being lower than the level we currently provide to them. As the levels of care and support we currently provide are required to maintain good outcomes for these members of our community, we have disagreed with the council's assessments, and after several months of discussions, we were informed that the council would not be changing their position.

"We are, and always have been, passionate about delivering excellent quality care and support, and maintaining safety for the vulnerable people we support. Our aim is to ensure their well-being and best outcomes are maintained. We could not however continue to provide this standard of care and support if we were to agree to the assessments by the council. It is therefore, with great reluctance and regret, that we have informed the council of our intent to give formal notice, in accordance with the terms of the council's contract.

"Many months of time and effort on both sides have gone in to trying to avoid this situation, but unfortunately we are left with limited options if we disagree on the level of care a person requires to lead as happy and normal a life as possible.

"We have made our position clear to the council that the people affected by this notice do not need to move out and can continue to live with us indefinitely as long as we are able to agree the correct care levels to ensure that we can maintain their safety and well-being."