A SOCIAL Services care home in Stud-ley is to remain open despite a Warwick-shire County Coun-cil review finding that care bought from privately run homes is cheaper.

Four Acres, in Archer Close, provides residential care for 31 people as well as respite and day care for up to 14 others. It employs four full-time staff and 33 part-time.

The rigorous "best value" review, which looked at Four Acres and other county-run homes, found that care costs were £40-£60 per resident per week higher than services bought from independent homes.

Members of Warwick-shire County Council's ruling cabinet backed the review, which recommended the home remain open despite the findings.

But it was also recommended that social services and Warwickshire Health Authority find a way to bring their care costs in line with the independent sector in the next three years.

County head of adult services, Adie Kean, said this could actually mean the county was paying more to private homes for certain services.

Ms Kean said: "When-ever there is a review, people are obviously anxious because we can't give them assurances about what would come out of it.

"But it is good news that Four Acres will not close as we have decided to keep a mixture of county council and private homes."

She added: "There will be a further review now, to look at costs, and we will be pulling together an action plan over the next three years to im-prove services."

This could include providing overnight accommodation for relatives to stay at the home.

Cabinet member for social services, Councillor Sid Tooth, said: "The cabinet was very im-pressed with the thoroughness of the review of homes for older people and the fact that councillors had been directly involved in interviewing staff, residents and their relatives.

"Overall, residents and relatives were happy with the service."