Plans to develop new community provision for adults with learning disabilities set to be approved by senior councillors

Aiming to deliver six high quality flats designed to accommodate some of Leeds most vulnerable citizens, who are in the Transforming Care Programme and currently live in long term hospitals outside of Leeds, allowing them to live independently in their local community.

There is currently no provision in Leeds to accommodate individuals who have the most complex needs in relation to their severe learning disabilities. Once completed the six flats, which will be registered as residential care, will help to prevent future hospital admissions and Leeds residents from being placed in residential institutions out of area and away from their families and communities.

Senior councillors are also set to approve the use of the Kirkland House site for the proposed development next week, enabling savings of one and half million pounds through the relocation of the project to the Kirkland House site instead of the previously earmarked Burley Willows site where significant groundwork costs would have been incurred.

The proposal being put forward in partnership with Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group is an invest to save programme, with the cost of the development set to be recouped by bringing the delivery of the service into Leeds as well as delivering ongoing financial benefits to the council and wider integrated care system.

Final approval for the design of the project and cost of the scheme, will be taken once feasibility work has been concluded, the scale of the scheme is better understood and a design and cost report is brought forward to the executive board.

Councillor Fiona Venner, executive member for adult and children's social care and health partnerships, said:

“I am delighted to see these plans develop. The proposed community provision will allow us to deliver a crucial service in Leeds, ensuring some of our must vulnerable residents can stay in the city and remain close to their families and communities.  

"The proposal will also provide the council and the city’s wider integrated care system ongoing financial benefit, highlighting how the council can continue to deliver crucial services for residents despite ongoing financial challenges.”

To see the executive board report including a full list of the proposed measures, go to agenda item 10