Staff shocked as rehab centre shut

Pierpoint, on Clifton Drive North, St Annes, was shut down on Tuesday, making staff redundant and moving its clients out with immediate effect.

Many say they are hundreds of pounds out of pocket after directors John Grady and Mark Styles failed to pay wages in full and they were “not in a position” to pay salaries, redundancy or notice period.

The centre has dealt with drug and alcohol rehabilitation for more than 20 years.

Jules Barnes, a support worker at the centre, said: “They owe me a lot of money, something like £1,200.

“I don’t know how I will see that. I was just given my notice and it’s immediate.

“It’s been going down for a bit, we’ve only been getting bits of wages. I don’t know how I will find another job, it’s hard at the moment.”

There were around 36 staff employed at Pierpoint, and fellow support worker Karen Brakewell, who has been employed by the firm for two years, said: “They still owe me £1,600.

“We have all been given letters of redundancy but the management have not been to speak to us.”

The centre was controversial when it opened in 1988, after Mr Grady converted his aunt’s former home into a rehabilitation centre.

The centre recently hit the headlines after it was signed up to take patients from well-known ITV show Jeremy Kyle.

Mr Grady said the company had entered administration due to a lack of referrals.

He said: “It is with great regret that I announce that Pierpoint Addiction Treatment Centres has entered administration.

“In recent years, the industry as a whole has suffered from a lack of referrals into rehabilitation programmes and unfortunately, Pierpoint could no longer be maintained in its present form.

“All of our residents currently in treatment have been relocated to alternative rehabilitation programmes where they will continue to be cared for and treated to the same high standards Pierpoint has become renowned for over the past 24 years.

“We remain hopeful that the hard work of our loyal employees will see the Pierpoint brand saved, as we continue our ongoing discussions with several interested parties in the forthcoming days.

“We would like to thank all who have been involved with and supported Pierpoint over the past two decades, employees, patients and ex-patients.”