Partnership working offers independent living options

A £120,000 investment has transformed a four bedroom house into independent living space for people with learning disabilities.

Gentoo and Sunderland City Council have worked together to adapt the detached property in the North Moor, creating three en suite bedrooms and staff office and sleepover space, where Adult Services will accommodate people who require support.

Ian Porter, Managing Director of Gentoo Sunderland, said: “This is a fantastic example of partnership working from key agencies in order to provide the best possible service to the people of Sunderland.

“We’re always looking at ways of adapting our services for customers with a wide variety of needs and it’s great that options like this one allow residents to maintain their own tenancy and gain more independence when, otherwise, they may not have been able to.”

Gentoo’s Care and Support team work closely with Sunderland City Council’s Learning Disabilities team on several similar initiatives. At present there are 42 people living in small Gentoo group homes with 24 hour support, and 25 properties where residents receive outreach support like the one at North Moor.

Quote from John Fisher, Head of Adult Services for Sunderland City Council, said: “We are delighted to receive yet another high quality house for people with learning disability from Gentoo. The partnership continues to provide timely solutions which are highly valued by the new tenants and their families.”

In 2008, Gentoo provided training on tenancy rights and responsibilities for over 20 members of the Learning Disability team, and further training is planned for later this month.

For further information on the work of the Learning Disabilities team, visit www.sunderland.gov.uk or call 0191 520 5555.

24Dash.com, 14th July 2009