£6million investment in learning disability and children's services in Southern Trust

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey today visited the site of a new £3.7million Social Education Centre and a new £2.3million Children’s Home in Newry.

The two separate new units located on the same site are scheduled to be completed in July 2010. They will provide day care services for adults with a learning disability and specialist health and social care for children and young people with learning disabilities who also have had challenging behaviour.

Speaking after checking progress at the site of the two new facilities, the Minister said: “This new Social Education Centre will provide a much needed facility to replace outdated accommodation in the Newry area. Dedicated staff have for too long endeavoured to provide a professional and caring service from unsuitable accommodation.

“The centre will enable the latest in treatment and care to be provided for adults with learning disabilities in the Newry area.”

He added: “The new Children’s Home brings a long awaited boost in available residential child care for children with complex needs in the wider Southern Trust area. Children will receive the latest in treatment and care in a modern domestic style facility with specially adapted en-suite rooms, therapy rooms and gardens.

“This development is a further sign of our continued investment in primary and community care as part of a £3billion plus investment to modernise the infrastructure of health and social care services.”

Notes to Editors:

• The new facilities will be located approximately one mile outside Newry on the Rathfriland Road.
• The Social Education Centre facility will provide day care services for adults with a learning disability who have complex care needs and challenging behaviours. It will have six group rooms with assisted bath and shower rooms, a suite of rooms for attendees with challenging behaviour, a therapy room and a speech and language room. There will also be a medical room, a soft area for development and learning, and a sensory room to aid implementation of a holistic programme for attendees with profound and multiple disabilities. The building also has a kitchen and a dining room area and an assisted daily living (ADL) kitchen.
• The Children’s Home will provide residential care and intensive support for eight young people with learning disabilities/challenging behaviour aged between 12 and 18 years. Each of the young people will have their own ensuite bedroom including all necessary adaptations to meet their individual needs. The home will include a therapy room for occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy.
• Over the 10 year period 2008/09-2017/18 the Department has been allocated a total capital envelope of almost £3.3billion, against an identified need of £7.8billion. Just over £700million of this is earmarked for the Comprehensive Spending Review period with the balance of just over £2.5billion allocated in the remaining period of the Investment Strategy.
• All capital expenditure is subject to the normal business case approval process.
• Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074. For out of office hours queries please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number on 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.