Reach Learning Disability’s purpose built, eco friendly assisted living homes in Southwell ready for first tenants

It is almost move-in time for 12 adults with learning disabilities who will be living independently for the first time.

Two homes have been constructed by Reach Learning Disability, to offer purpose-built, environmentally sustainable supported living accomodation for the people it supports.

Steve Shatwell, Reach chief executive, said: “The 12 tenants and their families are busy preparing for moving in day which is set for early June. At the same time, staff from across Reach are working hard to support them and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped us to achieve our long-held ambition to build quality housing in Southwell. The support of our local community has helped us to create a lasting legacy that will benefit people with learning disabilities and their families for years to come.”

Planning permission was granted for the homes, off Halloughton Road in Southwell, in 2019 and work began last April. An existing bungalow was demolished to make way for the new building.

The land was generously gifted to Reach, and the housing forms the ‘affordable housing’ quota for a neighbouring development. It is also equipped with eco friendly measures including solar panels, air source heat pumps and underfloor heating throughout.

Much of the funding for the development has been donated by the community, through Reach’s At Home In My Community appeal.

Fundraising development manager Laura Carr said: “We have a range of ages from early 20s to 60s moving in. Many of the tenants have never lived away from home.

“In rural areas creating supported housing is a particular challenge because of land prices. Often people have to move away from their community, which can be a challenge for people with learning disabilities, and often comes at a time of crisis, such as when their parents can no longer care for them.

“There is such an urgent need for places like this.”

The houses are in walking distance of both Reach’s day services and Flower Pod, which a number of the tenants attend, and is also close to the town centre.

Named The Cherries and Springbank House by the new tenants, the two properties mirror each other and each contain six spacious private bedrooms, with ensuite bathrooms and private balconies or patio spaces, a large open-plan kitchen diner and lounge, an upstairs common area, activity room, and a care workers’ bedroom and ensuite.

They are connected in the centre, with two laundry rooms, a communal accessible bathroom, and a lift.

A number of aspects of the houses are ‘future proofed’ and acessible to tenants with decreased mobility.

Each tenant was consulted on the kind of bathroom they would prefer — choosing from baths, showers or wetrooms — and all have wheelchair accessible sliding doors.

There is a lower counter and sink in the kitchen for use by tenants in wheelchairs, and every bedroom has the ability for a hoist to be installed.

“For anyone moving in this should be their forever home, if they want it to be,” Laura added.

Round-the-clock care, provided by Reach Learning Disability Care CIC (Reach Care), will be avilable to tenants in the two homes, with a rota of live-in carers staying at the property — who will be well-known faces in the house rather than changing regularly.

As a carer will be nearby at all times, the homely feel is not interupted with alarm systems in the bedrooms or bathrooms.

“We want it to feel like a home, not an institution,” Laura said.

Reach Care has been rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission since 2018 and also provides care support for adults with learning disabilities at home and in the community.

Registered care manager, Dani said: “We have recruited some fabulous people from our local community to work with our Southwell accommodation tenants. Right now we have opportunities for people in Newark as well. A career in care can be so much more rewarding than people think. Current Reach Care staff are from all backgrounds — nurses, teachers, miners, retail assistants, school-leavers and more. We’re focusing on finding people with the right values, attitudes and empathy who can work creatively to enable adults with learning disabilities to lead more independent lives.”

Now, the new tenants are busy preparing for their big move in early June.

Reach has been offering courses and support for them and their families to ensure everyone is move ready — and in December, some of the tenants gave a presentation about what they’d learnt including how to care for their new home, themselves and each other.

The skills they have learnt include laundry, as they will do their own in household washing machines rather than it being done together in an industrial machine as in some residential homes, and planning their online food shopping.

While communal areas will be furnished ahead of the tenants moving in, their bedrooms are completely their own spaces to decorate as they wish.

Reach has recently been awarded the Investors in People We Invest in People gold accreditation.

Dani added: “The Investors in People gold accreditation is evidence of our commitment to investing in our people. What this really means is that we have high retention rates, we offer work shadowing, comprehensive training and a platform for people to progress their career in care should they want it.”

To find out more about working as a Reach carer visit www.reachuk.org/care or call Dawn on 01636 653018.