The Bungalow, as it is known locally, provides overnight accommodation and short breaks for adults with learning disabilities, including people with diverse or complex needs. The accommodation has 10 bedrooms and currently 48 people benefit from using the centre during the course of a year.
Cornwall Care was awarded the contract to run the service by Cornwall Council following a tender process at the end of last year. It hopes to expand the services on offer at The Bungalow to include non-residential respite solutions and outreach services for people with learning disabilities. Cornwall Care also wants to extend the services on offer during the daytime.
Douglas Webb, Chief Executive of Cornwall Care, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Bungalow into the Cornwall Care family. We want to provide a positive experience that enables choice and control, social inclusion and increased independence for both the people attending the service and their parents or carers.
“Cornwall Care is always looking to enhance and improve services, offering care and support to those who need it most. We are proud, that as an approved provider, we can now offer respite stays for people with learning disabilities.
“We want the Bungalow to promote independence, enjoyment and security within a safe, well-managed and friendly home environment. Good quality respite care is essential for parents and carers and we are proud of the lively, cheerful and vibrant environment the staff team at the Bungalow create.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the fundamental role that dignity plays within our organisation. Dignity is at the heart of everything we do at Cornwall Care and underpins every aspect of the high quality of care of all our services. We strongly believe respecting dignity is a basic human right – not a discretionary extra.
“This means treating our customers – and indeed our staff - as individuals, giving them choice, control and a sense of purpose in their lives. It doesn’t take a great deal of effort to make a big difference.”
The overnight and weekend breaks are provided on a planned basis, although one bed is kept for emergencies, where 24-hour care and support can be provided as and when needed.
The majority of the accommodation is on the ground floor, with disabled access, and is available to people between the ages of 18 and 67.
The Bungalow is managed by Jan Rance with a team of 22 committed and fun-loving staff. It offers a real home from home environment, with activities including music therapy, cooking and art and there is a film to watch each evening.
Stays at the home are arranged and contracted through the Cornwall Council’s department of Adult Social Care, although this will change in future as some service users will choose to manage their own care through the council’s personalisation agenda.
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