One of the UK’s biggest private care home firms is reported to be on the brink of administration after notching up around a half a billion pounds’ worth of debt.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Seasons Health Care - Catchpole Court Care Home, Sudbury, Suffolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPSFour Seasons Health Care - Catchpole Court Care Home, Sudbury, Suffolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPS

Two of Four Seasons Health Care’s (FSHC) holding companies are said to be set to seek court approval to appoint administrators later on Tuesday, April 30, placing the long-term ownership of the business in doubt.

But the day-to-day operations at the 322 care homes run by the group will continue as normal while a buyer is sought, it is understood, with families, residents and employees unaffected.

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Professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has been lined up to handle the administration, which would be the biggest in the sector since Southern Cross collapsed in 2011.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Seasons Health Care - Eastlands Care Home, Taverham, Norfolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPSFour Seasons Health Care - Eastlands Care Home, Taverham, Norfolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPS

The biggest creditor to the holding companies is said to be US hedge fund H2 Capital.

Homes belonging to Four Seasons include North Court Care Home in Bury St Edmunds, Kingfisher House Care home in Newmarket, Catchpole Court Care Home in Sudbury, The Maltings Care Home at Fakenham, Eastlands Care Home at Taverham, St Mary’s Care Home, Crostwick, near Norwich, and Melton House Care Home at Wymondham, near Norwich.

The aim will be to run a sale process to put the group on a stable financial footing.

“The key thing to stress is it doesn’t prompt any change for the homes or the way they are run,” an insider said, as the holding companies, rather the operating ones, were involved.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Seasons Health Care - Kingfisher House Care Home, Newmarket, Suffolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPSFour Seasons Health Care - Kingfisher House Care Home, Newmarket, Suffolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPS

There is understood to be sufficient funding to allow for the running of the homes while a buyer is sought.

Unions are seeking reassurance over the future of the homes.

GMB, the union for care workers, said the government must urgently step in to reassure Four Seasons staff and residents.

GMB helped launch a All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) earlier this year to deal with a social care system ‘crumbling beneath us’.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Seasons Health Care - Melton House Care Home, Wymondham, Norfolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPSFour Seasons Health Care - Melton House Care Home, Wymondham, Norfolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPS

GMB national secretary Rehana Azam said: “The possible collapse of Four Seasons shows our care system is in crisis, it is crumbling beneath us because the funding isn’t there.

“Lack of funding in the care sector is putting the profession - and all of our futures – in serious danger.

“Throughout our lives, we will all come into contact with care - be it our mums and dads needing help, working as a carer or knowing someone who does. Ultimately we will all need it ourselves.

“But instead of taking action, this government keeps kicking the Green Paper on social care into the long grass.

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Seasons Health Care - North Court Care Home, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPSFour Seasons Health Care - North Court Care Home, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPS

East Anglian Daily Times: Four Seasons Health Care - The Maltings Care Home, Fakenham, Norfolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPSFour Seasons Health Care - The Maltings Care Home, Fakenham, Norfolk Picture: GOOGLE MAPS