Pioneering £3.5 million assisted living scheme officially opens in Blackburn

Blackburn’s first purpose-built development designed for adults with learning and physical disabilities to live independently was officially opened yesterday.

Moorgate Mill, on Moorgate Street, is an award winning £3.5 million development consisting of 20 apartments which have been designed in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Inclusion Housing, Lifeways and delivered by HB Villages.

Tenants and their families were joined by all partners involved in the project to celebrate the opening of this progressive scheme. Moorgate Mill was officially opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Councillor Faryad Hussain.

Moorgate Mill has been the vision of the Adult Social Care team and Learning Disability Partnership Board at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, who have driven this flagship development from initial conception to the innovative project it is today. Alongside support workers on site, Moorgate Mill has been fitted with cutting-edge adaptive technology from ATEL and Tunstall so tenants can benefit from state-of-the-art care solutions to support them now and in the future.

The progressive scheme is already been recognised for its innovative approach, winning Lifeways the best supported living service at the Specialist Care Awards 2015 and Specialist Care Provider of the Year 2015 at the Laing and Buisson Health Investor Awards. Alison Westwood, Complex Cases Manager at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, also received the accolade of Best Commissioner in the Specialist Care Awards 2015 for the key role she has played in delivering this project.

Councillor Mustafa Desai, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

I am very pleased this service is now officially opened. It is a superb development. As a Council, we are committed to giving residents more choice and control over their care and support and we want to make sure good quality services are readily available whether they are provided by the Council, the voluntary sector or the private one. This development fits in with this commitment.

We are also committed to developing and investing in services that offer early support and that helps people live as they wish.”

Jemima Taylor, Group Director of Development and Communication for Lifeways, said:

We are delighted to have opened this highly anticipated service in Blackburn and are looking forward to providing the best quality of care for our tenants. The bespoke housing and personalised support will provide a foundation for each individual to develop their independence, achieve their outcomes and goals. We are delighted that the scheme has been recognised across the industry for its excellence by winning two top national industry awards.

This service is a testament to what can be achieved when organisation’s work in partnership to meet the needs of a local community.”

David de Silva, Chief Executive of Inclusion Housing, said:

Moorgate Mill is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through innovative partnership working between Statutory, Not for Profit and Private sectors.  Inclusion Housing are proud to have delivered this purpose built scheme and are delighted to see the tenants settling into their new homes.  We look forward to working in partnership with Lifeways and the council to make this a valued resource for Blackburn for years to come.”

Jonathan Wrigley, Managing Director of HB Villages, said:

Moorgate Mill promotes personalisation for tenants. It gives them the choice to live where they want to, independently and in a safe environment. It empowers them to make their own decisions and gives them the freedom to manage their own home, budgets and lifestyle with support where needed.

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It’s fantastic to have be to celebrate the wonderful homes the tenants have created. HB Villages, with our partners, is committed to replicating the success of Moorgate Mill in other areas. Our vision is to build fit-for-purpose assisted living premises in every local authority in the country.”

Tony Walker, Business Development Director of Tunstall Healthcare Group, said:

We need a future that empowers people to take more control over their own care needs and by harnessing them with the right blend of design, technology and care, we can give people the same life choices as others.  The Tunstall/ATEL approach fills that gap by offering a new and exciting technology-enabled care concept.”

Tenants moved into their new homes at Moorgate Mill in July 2014 and since then the scheme has built a caring community which has not only changed the lives of tenants, but also their families and carers.  In the few months the tenants have lived in their new homes they have developed new independence, allowing elderly relatives, who have been long-term carers, retire in the knowledge that their loved ones are living a happy and independent life.

Naeem, who previously lived in private care home, has enjoyed a new found independence since moving into Moorgate Mill. She has a wrist pendent to alert carers when she requires support. Naeem said:

I am in control of my support and only get help when I need it. I feel so independent, I am so happy here.”

For further information on Moorgate Mill please email: referrals@lifeways.co.uk