Torus is committed to providing specialist homes to support people who may just need that little bit of extra support. In celebration of Mencap Learning Disability Week 2024 (17-23 June) we wanted to point the spotlight on two Torus schemes in St Helens – Heathside and Millpoint - that provide people with a learning disability and autistic people not just a home, but also a community, a place to feel safe and develop skills to live an independent life.

HEATHSIDE

Opened in April 2024, Heathside is a unique assisted specialist supported living scheme which provides a state-of-the-art home for people with a learning disability and autistic people, some of whom were ready to move on from hospital or who may need to move back to St Helens from out of borough placements.

Developed in partnership with St Helens Borough Council and the NHS, Heathside is the first scheme of its type in St Helens and incorporates – as standard – several innovative technologies and solutions designed specifically to ensure residents are safe and supported in their homes. With each of the apartments fitted with a range of features including an advanced alarm system, and numerous telehealth products.

These design features and support mean that residents can live close to families and enable them to have a tenancy and live within the community accessing 24-hour specialist support with round-the-clock care provision, provided by Creative Support.

Cheshire and Mersey NHS Transforming Care Housing Lead, Sarah Houghton-Grimshaw, said:

“The Heathside project has delivered seven much needed and well-designed homes for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Since opening earlier this year we have already seen people move on from hospital to live in their own home with tailored support.

“During Learning Disability Week this year, the theme is “Do you see me” aimed at challenging the barriers people with a learning disability face. Accessing good quality housing within the community where people want to live is a significant barrier faced by many people with a learning disability and autistic people. Providing more homes like Heathside is essential in removing that barrier and improving the housing choices available.”

North West Housing lead for Learning Disabilities and Autism Programme, NHS, Jane Bellwood, added

“Homes like the Heathside provide people with learning disabilities with the opportunity to live better lives.

“Lives that offer more choices and control, that will improve their well-being and give them the chance of being more independent. Following on from the Learning Disabilities Week theme of “Do you see me?”, these housing with care schemes mean people reconnect with their families and make new friends within their community, including people who are not learning disabled.

“Schemes like Heathside can transform lives, sometimes this is the first time people have had homes that really meet their needs.”

Partly funded by an NHS Capital Grant of just over £1.1 million, the £1.7 million scheme, was developed in collaboration with NHS England (St Helens Integrated Care Board) and St Helens Borough Council.

MILLPOINT

A walk around Millpoint in St Helens, cannot help but bring a smile to your face. The nine re-developed flats with communal areas for people with learning disabilities are not just a home, they are a community, a place to feel safe and develop skills to live an independent life.

The innovative scheme, which welcomed residents in November 2019, came about when Torus was approached by a group of parents with adult children with learning disabilities who were all friends. They were looking for somewhere they could live together in supported accommodation, to prepare them for a time when they were no longer able to care for them and no other services existed like this in St Helens.

On site care is provided by Community Integrated Care, Service Leader Northwest for CIC, Natalie Greenhough, said:

“The people supported at Millpoint are supported to live an active and independent lifestyle as much as possible.

“Living in Millpoint enables people to have the enjoyment of living with other individuals and participate in joint activities and outings with their co-tenant friends whilst also having the benefit of their own little flat where they can spend time alone to enjoy their own time and space.

“The communal spaces are used by all the people supported for evening meals, cooking, celebrations throughout the year, games and quiz nights and movie nights, the list goes on.

“The people at Millpoint are also supported to access other providers such as Midstream and CDP for other social support but whilst having their Community Integrated Care support team based at the service who meet their needs for everything that sits outside of the day social support.

“It is a pleasure to be part of the Millpoint service and regular positive feedback is received from the people supported that they love living here.”

The scheme includes specialist features which encourage residents to grow independence whilst staying safe, these include; ground source heat pumps feeding underfloor heating to ensure a safe constant temperature without risk of burning, a specially designed kitchen area to teach life skills, gardens and growing beds as well as fob access and specialist signage throughout.

Based in Moss Bank, St Helens, Mill Point was developed by Torus, in partnership with St Helens Council and Adult Social Care and offers people the opportunity to live independently, learn new skills and grow confidence, with the reassurance of 24/7 on-site support from, health & social care charity, Community Integrated Care (CIC).

Torus Supported Housing Commissioning Project Manager, Anna Jameson, added:

“Tenants are at the heart of everything we do, and we are we are proud to support Learning Disability Week and the theme of "Do you see me?".

“Heathside and Millpoint underpins Torus’ commitment to providing safe and secure supported housing for vulnerable people, making sure they are seen, heard and valued.

“It is wonderful to hear how the communities within the schemes are growing and the changes it is making to people’s lives."

Find out more about Learning Disability Week 2024 here (easy read).