A Colchester-based care firm is creating 1,350 new jobs nationwide as part of a £170million growth plan.

East Anglian Daily Times: One of Care UK's newest homes Field Lodge in St Ives opened February 2014.One of Care UK's newest homes Field Lodge in St Ives opened February 2014. (Image: Archant)

Care UK says it is on track with its ambitious growth strategy, with 870 jobs nationwide already created, and a further 480 in the pipeline over the next 12 months.

East Anglian Daily Times: Care UK's Bowes House care home in Hailsham opened last June.Care UK's Bowes House care home in Hailsham opened last June. (Image: Archant)

The independent sector health and social care provider will create 100 new posts when it opens Mountfitchet House, near Stansted. Across Essex and Suffolk it is investing £66m in new homes, including 10 replacement homes in Suffolk.

The 1,350 full and part-time jobs across the UK include career opportunities for carers and nurses as well as positions in support services and management.

Over the past 15 months Care UK has opened 10 new, state-of-the-art care homes that represent an investment of approximately £76m. Another 15 homes are currently being built or about to be built, bringing with them additional investment of more than £95m.

Many of the new homes will feature day care clubs that provide activity and companionship services for local people who are living in their own homes. Care UK envisages these complementary services will help to create and support dementia-friendly communities, which are integral to the government achieving its dementia challenge launched by the Prime Minister in 2012.

Group finance director Paul Humphreys said: “Our programme of new home openings is evidence of the dedication we have to raising standards in the care sector through an investment in our care environments, the services we provide and the people who we employ.

“Our new care homes have been specifically designed to meet a wide range of care needs. By creating modern and stimulating environments we can offer older people who are unable to stay in their own homes high quality, personalised care and the support they need to maintain as much independence as possible.

“In two and a half years we have increased our number of care homes beds by 74% and predict that by 2016 we will provide places to more than 8,000 people. Our ability to commit significant resources, combined with attracting substantial investment from our funding partner, show genuine confidence in the expertise and vision of our team.”