WESSEX Care has unveiled a multi-million pound project to revamp its care homes and modernise its services.

Phase one of the estimated £12million work is due to start in April at Kimberley House on Tollgate Road. Salisbury.

The family-run business, which specialises in small-scale care homes with fewer than 30 beds, is hoping the new project will make the company “fit-for-purpose” for the next 20 to 30 years.

It is planned to take five years to completely redevelop all five care homes run by Wessex Care, generating 150 extra jobs.

Managing director Matthew Airey and his wife Pauline, who founded the company, describe their homes as “care centres” which can be used by more than the residents. The new development will feature space that can be used by day patients and will have areas for occupational therapy sessions as well as health and rehabilitation.

One of the more controversial aspects of the development however will be the installation of an overt CCTV recording system.

“It is what the families want,” Matthew said.

“They will not have somebody monitoring them 24-7 but they are there if something goes wrong and to give the families peace of mind.”

Pauline, who has worked as a nurse for 35 years, hopes to get “young people enthusiastic about caring”.

Wessex Care has worked closely with the council and the NHS for the last 12 years to provide |affordable care.

“Our philosophy is to provide care for the majority not the minority,” Mathew said.

“There is this huge disparity between people who can and can’t pay for their care services.”

When phase one of the Kimberley House development is completed the company will move onto phase two, a 27-bed home.

By October 2016 they hope to move onto Little Manor, then Castle View and Holmwood in October 2017 before finishing with Milford Manor redevelopment planned to start in late