The care of 237 elderly tenants living in sheltered flats across Croydon is to be brought back under Council control.

From today, tenants of six special blocks across the borough will receive letters informing them that the Council proposes to take over provision of care having ended a contract with the existing private provider.

The blocks allow vulnerable elderly residents to maintain their independence in self-contained flats while also receiving a greater degree of security and service, including care and support from on-site staff.

Councillor Jane Avis, Croydon Council’s cabinet member for families, health and social care, said: “Supporting our residents to be happy, healthy and more independent is a council priority, and these proposals to bring this contract back under our control allow us to be more hands-on in the day-to-day running of services for these residents.”

The care contract, initially awarded in 2013 to Care UK, was subcontracted to Mears and then London Care Ltd.

The Council intends to "continue to improve and invest" in the sheltered blocks when they are back in-house, upgrading communal areas and furniture, restoring shared kitchen areas and revamping community gardens.

In line with legislation covering the transfer of staff, the current provider’s employees will be able to transfer automatically onto the council payroll.

Those that do will be guaranteed the London Living Wage.

The contract change is the latest in a series of council moves in recent years to bring formerly outsourced services back in-house, including libraries and grounds maintenance.

The six schemes affected are:

• Frylands Court in New Addington

• Southsea Court in Broad Green

• Toldene Court in Old Coulsdon

• Brookhurst Court in South Norwood

• Freeman Court in Norbury

• Truscott House in West Croydon