Strand Court, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire
Working closely with the local integrated Council and health team in North East Lincolnshire to create 60, modern and secure, Extra Care apartments with integrated care and support for local residents
In North East Lincolnshire the Council and NHS, through the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) work together to support older people. They selected Ashley House as their partner to provide new homes that help older people remain independent and healthy for as long as possible. As they get older many people need extra help to do the everyday tasks such as preparing meals, bathing, housework, keeping track of administering their medications and just getting out and about. But these people still want to live in their own homes and make their own decisions.
This is Extra Care, where people live independently in their own purpose built home and receive care and support depending on their needs. This type of service provision is being adopted nationally and is proven to improve health outcomes and drive independence in a secure and managed environment. It is also less costly than residential care homes.
Project background
Demand is increasing as people are living longer and as they get older they need more help. Commissioners in North East Lincolnshire calculated that they needed 400 to 500 Extra Care flats for older people over the next five years.
Ashley House helped identify five areas that would benefit most from Extra Care. The first of these in the region of East Marsh, Grimsby has many older people already receiving care and support in their own homes. As their needs increase, they need to consider other accommodation, but many had a strong sense of community and wanted to remain in East Marsh.
What we did
Ashley House, working in close partnership with the CCG and Council, identified and acquired a suitable site. Secured planning and financing and has now built a mix of one and two bedroom independent flats on the site. For the benefit of all residents there are shared areas, such as communal garden, dining area where food and drinks are available and a social area to meet friends and get involved in activities.
The flats have been designed to meet national design standards for housing the elderly. Each includes a bedroom, kitchen, shower room and living area and can facilitate utilisation of assistive technology, where appropriate. Each flat is homely in feel and furnished with the residents’ own belongings and furniture.
The new 5,000 square metre building houses a range of health and social welfare services for local people.
Points of interest
The CCG and Council worked with Ashley House and our RP partner to assess and select residents through a Nominations Agreement. There is a weekly rent and service charge, set in-line with what is already charged locally and agreed with the local housing benefits officers to make sure prospective residents can afford it. The care and support services in the Extra Care scheme are commissioned separately by the CCG. Care is available 24 hours a day to help people to continue to live independently for as long as possible.
“Ashley House enabled us to make a start on delivering our Extra Care Housing strategy for North East Lincolnshire when other avenues had all disappeared. Our first scheme in Grimsby has just been completed and all the flats have been allocated to frail elderly people form the area, in line with our agreed criteria.
The path has not been straightforward, but Ashley House proved an excellent partner in helping to get over the various hurdles and bring our plans to fruition. We are now actively involved in planning the next schemes to be developed by Ashley House, in line with our Joint Venture agreement, to help us to continue reshaping our services for frail elderly people.”
Jake Rollin, Assistant Director at North East Lincolnshire CCG said:
Project Partners
“The path has not been straightforward, but Ashley House have proved an excellent partner in helping to get over the various hurdles and bring our plans to fruition.”
“Ashley House proved an excellent partner in helping get over the various hurdles and bring our plans to fruition”