CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN on a new housing development for adults with complex care and support needs in Moray.
The £2.5million project is the first to be taken forward by the Moray Integration Joint Board (IJB) as part of its responsibility for bringing a wide range of health and social care functions for adults.
Board vice-chair Christine Lester was joined by colleagues, staff and the families of the prospective tenants at the Lhanbryde site on Thursday to mark the start of a development that will see 10 purpose-build bungalows just off the Garmouth Road.
The project will replace an existing residential facility at Maybank in Forres, the Victorian property there having become unsuitable for those who live and work there.
When completed the new homes will be taken up by four current Maybank residents alongside new tenants. One house will be available for respite accommodation to give families a break and another for communal use so the residents can get together to socialise.
Mrs Lester said: “This is a ground-breaking project which will give adults with high levels of care and support needs the opportunity to live in a home of their own for the first time. I am delighted work is under way and I look forward to the new tenants moving in next spring.”
Chief Officer Pam Gowans said that the main purpose of integrating health and social care is to improve the health and wellbeing of people who use services. She added: “This development will enable us to effectively and efficiently provide seamless, integrated, quality health and social care services to the tenants in their own homes.”
The Lhanbryde development has been fully funded from Moray Council’s capital programme and will be managed by Health and Social Care Moray, the operational workforce reporting to the IJB.
More than 30 new posts, both full and part time, will be recruited to support the current staffing compliment of around 40 who will transfer from Maybank.