The company said the move was the result of a combination of factors, including a lack of proper funding, rising fuel prices and the Government's decision not to extend the Real Living Wage (RLW) to care workers.

Chief executive Ryan Williams said: ‘Our first priority is always the safety and dignity of the people we support, alongside the wellbeing of our workforce. This is not a position we take lightly, but the current trajectory makes it increasingly difficult to uphold those standards in a sustainable way. We would welcome urgent dialogue with Health & Social Care Trusts and the Department of Health to find a solution.'

A Department of Health (DoH) spokesperson said: ‘The Department has been participating, and will continue to participate, in a range of collaborative forums with independent sector providers and associated representative bodies.'

The Department said social care reform work was ongoing, including a recently published 10-year strategic plan and an initial delivery plan setting out actions to be taken forward over the next three years.

The spokesperson added: ‘The Department continues to respond to a wide range of issues raised by social care providers, and senior officials are engaging with a range of homecare and care home providers regarding a number of these.'

In addition, the DoH said it remained committed to delivering the RLW for the independent social care sector in 2026/27 but could not confirm when an announcement would be made as it was still awaiting a confirmed budget.

Health minister Mike Nesbitt has promised to backdate Real Living Wage payments to 1 April 2026.