New disability service for Hyndburn and Ribble Valley

A new short breaks service will provide support for adults with disabilities in Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

This service will provide temporary accommodation and support helping people to be as independent as possible and take part in a range of activities during their stay.

The facility will comprise six en-suite rooms, a lounge, communal areas, a separate annex and a range of modern equipment to support people with physical and learning disabilities. It will be used for both planned and emergency short stays.

Lancashire County Council’s cabinet approved the decision at its meeting on February 6, which is subject to planning permission being granted, and the proposals will now go through the application process.

The facility, which will be operated by Lancashire County Council, will be built on disused land on the site of the former North Cliffe School on Blackburn Old Road, Great Harwood next-door to a new children’s short break service.

Cllr Shaun Turner, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: ‘This much-needed new facility will offer excellent support for people with disabilities and their families.

‘Carers do a superb job supporting people, but sometimes need a break from their role. This new service will offer accommodation for people for short stays. It is designed to meet a variety of needs and will be run by fully trained staff.

‘There are currently two separate adults short breaks services for Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, which are run from converted residential buildings. These are not designed as modern care facilities and, as such, it is becoming more and more difficult to support people at these locations.

‘This new building will meet all the latest care standards, and by bringing the services together on one site which is specifically designed for the purpose, we’ll be able to provide even better care support.

‘Unlike the current short break buildings, all the rooms will be on the ground-floor level, which will make them much more easily accessible. There will also be an annexe which will provide greater flexibility in the way the service is delivered.’

The decision to build the children’s short break service was approved by the cabinet in May 2019. The adult and children’s facilities will be built on the site at the same time to save costs and ensure disruption is kept to a minimum once the buildings are open.

Cllr Turner added: ‘The former North Cliffe School site is the ideal location for this facility.

‘It will be brought back into use with this adults care facility alongside the children’s short break service, which was previously approved.

‘We are facing an increased demand for modern care facilities like this, which support disabled people to live more independently. Together these services will form a vital part of East Lancashire’s health and social care system.’

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