Care boost for older people in Walsall

Housing 21 and Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council put pen to paper this week with the signing of a 30 year public private partnership (PPP) contract that will see the transfer of care homes and day care centres to the housing and care specialists, transforming the landscape of future services for older people and their families living in Walsall.

Under the terms of the agreement, Housing 21 will take over the running of the existing services and, over a three year period, replace ten residential care homes and six day centres with new units. Approximately 400 staff have also transferred to Housing 21, a leading provider of housing and care for older people.

The £165m re-provision project, which has been supported by £11.4m of Social Housing Grant from the Housing Corporation, will create over 285 apartments and day care facilities in five extra care schemes across Walsall. The project, built by construction partner Inspace, will include homes for rent and for shared ownership.

Melinda Phillips, chief executive of Housing 21, said: “We are delighted to be working with Walsall Council on the reprovision of homes and services for older people. This is a very exciting project and one that will transform housing and care provision for local people.”

David Martin, executive director for social care and inclusion at Walsall Council said: “This is a genuinely exciting time for the people of Walsall, who when the building programme is concluded in three year’s time will have one of the best quality systems of care for older people in the country.

“Older people will be able to access an excellent quality of accommodation combined with all the care they need to remain independent and to have real choices for the future,” he added.

A specialist residential and day care unit for up to 40 people with dementia will also be provided, along with the refurbishment of an existing residential home for intermediate care.