A CARE home in Christchurch for half a dozen vulnerable adults with learning difficulties is to close.

The Mallards in Stour Road cares for the domestic needs of six adults with learning difficulties aged from 40 to 65.

Dorset County Council's head of community care Glen Gocoul said The Mallards was set up as a supported housing scheme in 2003.

"However, a recent inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) ruled that it was now effectively being run as a residential care home, and this was outside Dorset County Council's remit as a domiciliary care agency," he said.

"While the inspectors praised the way The Mallards was run, its service users' dependency needs are much higher than our support services would normally cater for.

"The CSCI said the county council must comply with relevant legislation.

"The council has looked into the possibility of registering The Mallards as a residential home with the current owners of the property, but they did not support this approach.

"And the extensive investment needed to upgrade the building to meet CSCI standards means the chances of attracting another partner agency are extremely slim.

"Due to cost pressures, the county council does not have the funding to register the property itself, and so has no option but to close The Mallards."

He said the council was looking for alternative placements for its service users.

"Staff, service users and carers were all notified of this decision as soon as possible, and a process is now under way to find suitable alternative placements for service users.

"Their continued care is our paramount concern, and we are liaising with carers, staff and advocates to make these transitions as smooth as possible," he added.

"We are also working closely with staff to help them cope with the change and find alternative jobs through redeployment."