New Surrey Homes For People With Learning Disabilities

New Surrey Homes For People With Learning Disabilities

This winter, much-loved Surrey charity Active Prospects held a celebratory event for the official opening of nine new homes in Redhill which will serve as vital support for those with learning disabilities and, or autism. The unveiling follows a successful 12 months for the Reigate charity as its Re.Work.It Boutique opened its doors to customers on Reigate’s High Street.

The new Redhill housing development is the result of strong collaborative working between organisations including the Department of Health and Social Care which allowed the sale of a redundant care home, providing NHS England with the capital to work with Active Prospects to transform the site as well as working with Surrey County Council and Surrey’s clinical care groups.

Active Prospects which works to enable people with learning disabilities, physical and mental health needs to live full and aspiring lives, identified and moved people, many who had previously been in long-term hospital environments. The project is the first purpose-built new property development for Active Prospects with the homes designed by AHP Architects and built by Marpaul Southern.

Speaking about the housing project and its impact locally, Maria Mills, Active Prospects chief executive, says: “We are extremely proud of this project as this is our first new-build service, built specifically for local people moving into their first long term homes. It has been fantastic to make this happen through a successful partnership working with the NHS and Surrey County Council.’

“To see everyone move into their new homes is a great achievement and we recognise that it is so important to have homes that you are proud of. Residents, who have autism and, or learning disabilities, now have their own front door and own flat for life, something that some people have never had before” Maria adds as the development welcomes new residents into their homes.

The new, modern supported housing development has been specifically designed and built with the latest advances in inclusive building design and assistive technology which facilitates independent living. The development is already proving a hit with those who have moved into new homes, one resident of the new service says of their home, ‘it is very nice, and I like helping with the gardening.’

Sinead Mooney, Surrey County Council cabinet member for adults and public health, who attended the event, said: “The homes and the environment, including the garden, will encourage independent living and facilitate an individual’s independence. When I get the opportunity to come out and see great providers, such as Active Prospects, it becomes a lot more real for us, Surrey County Council.”

CQC State Of Care Report Highlights Importance Of Community Services

At the end of 2019, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published the State of Care Report 2019,  it acknowledged the importance of community-based services for people with learning disabilities and recognised the positive impact that this has on their lives. Active Prospects has re-housed 14 people from inpatient settings in 2018 – 2019 to quality, community homes. Easy read report documents can be viewed online, visit: www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major report/state-care