Derby City Council plans to enhance its short breaks service for adults with learning disabilities and their carers, with the construction of a brand-new facility.
Bonsall View provides specialist care and support for adults with learning disabilities for short periods, on a planned or respite basis, while giving their unpaid carers a break from their responsibilities.
Earlier this year, the Cabinet approved plans to move the service from its current location in Arboretum House into the former Morleston Day Centre. Since then, we have reviewed the condition, layout and suitability of the building, and concluded that refurbishment would not be the best long-term solution.
As a result, the plan has changed to demolishing the current Morleston building and creating a modern, purpose-built facility on the same site, to meet current and future service requirements. The number of beds will also increase from five at present to seven.
Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Digital, said: “We’ve considered the condition of the building and taken the opportunity to come up with a plan which works in the best interest of service users and their families.
“The revised scheme will provide a fit-for-purpose facility that is better able to support the delivery of the short breaks service over the longer term. This will enable the Council to continue providing this essential service in an environment that is appropriate, sustainable and capable of meeting the needs of service users.”
Following these changes, Cabinet Members are being asked to approve the change in approach at their meeting on 7 October, and approve the increase in the project budget from £2.638m to £3.322m. This will be funded from within existing property budgets.
The Bonsall View service will continue to run at Arboretum House until the new building is ready, which is currently expected to be in February 2028.
The Council is also working with Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust to explore re-purposing Arboretum House for its Community First service, which provides nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy support to help people become independent and return home more quickly after a hospital stay. Discussions about this are ongoing.