A RESPITE centre for vulnerable people in Southampton has escaped closure for at least another year after no suitable alternative was found.

Plans to close Kentish Road respite centre were approved last year, alongside plans to shut the Woodside Lodge care home and day services for adults for learning difficulties.

But while Woodside Lodge has now closed after new places were found for its residents, Kentish Road will not shut until next September at the earliest.

Dave Shields, the city council’s health and adult social care chief, said a review of the service had identified 47 people for whom there was no suitable alternative to Kentish Road.

It means that some of the 50 jobs that would have been axed by closing Kentish Road and other day services will now remain for at least the next year.

Cllr Shields said: “If cabinet agrees to this recommendation then, between September this year and March next year, the Integrated Commissioning Unit will conduct a further review of replacement care need across the city. We envisage that the outcome of that review will be implemented by October 2016.

“The excellent standards of care and support at Kentish Road depend on its committed workforce, so if cabinet agrees that Kentish Road should stay open for another year, any staff changes there will be put on hold pending the outcome of the review.”