The Kirk closed four homes last year

The Kirk has confirmed that it will decide which homes stay open when its current review of services ends in June.

Church leaders said they were still experiencing financial difficulties despite closing four residential homes last year.

Kirk director of social work Ian Manson said: "We have set up a review group which is examining a range of issues, including finance, human resources, property, registration and local supply and demand.

Financial constraints

"This review incorporates a consultation process with our staff, service users, Kirk presbyteries and other relevant groups such as individual local authorities.

"When the review, which began in November, is completed, the board will then have some extremely difficult decisions to make about which homes will close and which ones can continue or be redeveloped within available financial constraints."

The Kirk announced last April that it was closing five residential homes accommodating 125 elderly people, although Rubislaw Park House in Aberdeen was given a last-minute reprieve after discussions with the city council.

A national review group, which included the Scottish Executive, Cosla, Scottish Care, the Church of Scotland and Salvation Army, agreed in 2001 that care home fees should be raised from �295 to �390 per week.

New funding deal

The Scottish Executive increased the figure to �332 this year but the Kirk insisted that the sum was "way too short" of what was required.

The executive last year said it was "disappointed" with the Kirk's decision, pointing out it had invested more than �50m in the care home sector.

Last week Scottish Care, which runs more than 800 private homes, warned that it would close its doors to new admissions after rejecting a new funding deal.