The Richmond Fellowship Scotland has successfully tendered for a new learning disability service in Greenock.
This service, which begins in June 2007, will provide 24-hour support within purpose built flats for six people who are moving out of long-term hospital care. Planning and development work has already begun in partnership with Inverclyde and Renfrewshire councils and specific recruitment initiatives are being planned within the local area.
Helen Halpin, Quality & Service Development Director, said: "The Development Team has been working closely with services on building proposals which emphasise and demonstrate the quality of the service we deliver. We have also been highlighting the added value achieved by involvement of the Positive Behaviour Support Team and FOCUS in supporting services at a local level. The team are delighted that our joint working approach has proved successful and we are looking forward to working alongside the Operational Managers to support the set up of this new and exciting service."
Linsey Gallacher, Locality Manager, added: "The diversification of our local services has enabled our staff to grow and develop an ever increasing skill base which has enhanced our ability to respond to crisis requests and retain an almost 100% staffing level. We are looking forward to starting work on this new service and proactively developing it into what we hope will be a local flagship service for the organisation."
This new service represents The Richmond Fellowship Scotland's first contracted Learning Disability service within Inverclyde. The first service in Inverclyde started in 1997 and the organisation now provides support to people with a variety of support needs including mental health difficulties, learning disabilities, alcohol-related brain damage, autism, and Huntington disease.