Enhancing Lifestyles for People with a Learning Disability

This summer Fremantle has launched several new supported living services in the county, which are now providing places for 32 adults with a learning disability in brand new, purpose built properties. The new developments are in High Wycombe, a pair of semi-detached, studio bedroom houses with 6 tenants in each house; in Buckingham, a development of 7 individual flats; and in Aylesbury a shared, studio bedroom house for 6 tenants and another development of 7 individual flats.

The people who have transferred into the new accommodation, provided by Housing Solutions Group, had previously lived in Fremantle care homes. With the support of Fremantle staff and their families over many months’ people have been developing the skills which will enable and empower them to live their lives more independently, as tenants in their own homes. The development programme put in place by Fremantle, before the moves to the new accommodation, was specifically designed to help build confidence, accomplishments and greater independence. The support programmes do not stop with the moves; staff will continue to advise and support individual service users so that they are able to lead enhanced lifestyles, promoting new challenges and opportunities for personal growth.

"Supported living is about increased opportunities and choices and people having greater control over their own lives; it’s also about providing more personal space for individuals," commented Carole Sawyers, Chief Executive at Fremantle. "The people who have moved into these new, purpose-built facilities will benefit from new and exciting life experiences. They will have individually tailored support packages that provide them with as much, or as little, help as they need, with the added peace of mind for them and their relatives that staff are on hand 24 hours a day."

Mrs Wyton, the mother of one of the tenants moving into the Buckingham flats commented, "The family could not be happier with Gary’s new flat, it is just beautiful. This is Gary’s first ’place of his own’ and it brings a lump to my throat when I think about it. He has come on in leaps and bounds since he got a place in care but I think he will develop even more here."

More about Individual Supported Living Flats
People who move from care homes to individual supported living flats will be encouraged and supported to access the full range of social facilities and activities available in the local community and to take an active part in community life. It is recognised, however, that for those people moving from long term placements in care homes, the opportunity to maintain access to the informal support of the closer ’peer-group’ requires the provision of some communal space within supported living developments. For individual flats this will be in the form of a ’drop in’ communal flat.

More about Shared Supported Living Houses
Shared living environments provide an opportunity for those people who prefer to live with other people, rather than in a flat on their own, to have more choice and control. The objective is to allow the individuals living in such houses to maximise their opportunities for how they choose to live their lives. The focus remains on supporting development and participation to enable individuals to access their local community, gain in confidence and, where possible, move on to live with a higher level of independence.

*About Project Care
Project Care is the name of the scheme to redevelop Fremantle’s services for older people and people with learning disabilities throughout Buckinghamshire. It is a partnership between The Fremantle Trust, Buckinghamshire County Council and Housing Solutions Group. The Project Care initiative means that Fremantle will be able to upgrade all its current care services in Buckinghamshire, bringing modern, high quality, "fit for purpose" accommodation to local residents who find they need to move into a formal care setting.

The project is now well underway; the first new home (Lewin House), built by contractor Castleoak Care Partnership Ltd, opened in Aylesbury, November 2007. This is primarily a care home with nursing for 70 older people; however there is also a separate eight-person unit for people with learning disabilities. A second home, Icknield Court, was opened in November 2008 in Princes Risborough; residents from old Icknield Court in Risborough and Maple Court in Chesham moved in. The third home, The Heights at Downley, High Wycombe was opened at Easter 2009 and residents from Sir Aubrey Ward, Marlow and Cherry Garth, Holmer Green moved in. The Heights is primarily a nursing and dementia care home, but has a separate learning disability wing attached which has 8 permanent places and 7 respite places. Then in June 2009 the halfway point was reached when Carey Lodge at Wing was opened with places for 75 residents. Building work is currently underway in Marlow on the site of the old Sir Aubrey Ward home.

For learning disability services, a development of 16-individual supported living apartments at Beechlands Court, High Wycombe opened in June 2008. The developments above are the latest in Project Care for people with a learning disability.

The Partners in Project Care are:
The Fremantle Trust, a registered charity which specialises in providing care for older people and people with learning disabilities. Fremantle will manage and provide care at all the new Project Care locations.
Housing Solutions Group, a not for profit housing association, which is investing £50 million in Project Care building new care homes for older people, as well as new self-contained flats and shared houses for people with learning disabilities, alongside new affordable housing. Buckinghamshire County Council is the commissioning authority and funds the care needs of older people and people with a learning disability in the county.

For more information please contact:
Claire Gajeckyj, Marketing Manager on 01296 737366
Woodley House, 64-65 Rabans Close, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8RS
email: claire.gajeckyj@fremantletrust.org