New Intensive Support Service for Sheffield

31 July 2012

Work has started on a £3.3m new building for people with a learning disability in Sheffield.

The new building is in Firshill Rise and is funded and managed by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation.Trust.  The building will provide state-of-the-art facilities, incorporating bed and community based services for people with additional complex needs around mental health and/or behaviour that challenges.

Alan Walker, Trust Chairman, cut the first turf at the site, alongside service user Jonathan Morrell, heralding the start of work on the building, due to be open next April.

Kevan Taylor, Chief Executive of SHSC, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for significant service development for those clients with the most complex needs.”

The new service will provide a nationally leading edge model based on Positive Behavioural Support, Psycho Social Intervention and early intervention work, so that service users receive expert help at the most appropriate stage.

The service will bring together skilled and experienced staff from three existing services that include a range of health professionals including psychiatry, nursing, psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and development workers.  Following national evidence about the best practice, there will be a focus on early intervention work so that individuals and their carers, receive expert help at an early stage.

John Tomlinson Assistant Clinical Director for the Joint Learning Disability Service- and the Intensive Support Service, said “The whole philosophy is to give service users the most appropriate expert support in a timely manner.

“The new service aims to provide support around the individual, whether this be at home or within the bed based service should they require a period of assessment and treatment within a safe environment.”

We believe this will provide a more effective seamless service, working in close partnership with other providers, resulting in the most positive outcomes for individuals.”

The building will incorporate eight beds, including two self contained flats, as well as a series of clinical and activity rooms that can be used by community and bed based service users. The aims of the service will prevent inappropriate admissions into a hospital environment or, ensure service users spend the least amount of time there and are able to return home sooner.

The new facility replaces now out dated facilities based in the grounds of the Northern General Hospital.