New complex needs day centres for people with dementia launched

An innovative service to support people in local communities with complex needs is opening in East Leeds. The formal opening ceremony of Wykebeck Valley Complex Needs Centre was opened today (12 December 2017).

The former day centre has been transformed and upgraded to become a complex needs and dementia service, with extra investment in staffing meaning an intensive package of care and support can be provided to the growing numbers of people with dementia who otherwise might need residential or nursing care to be provided.

Wykebeck Valley is the first of a series of Complex Needs Centres run by the council across the city to be delivered into complex needs centres with Calverlands in West Leeds and Laurel Bank in South Leeds due to open in 2018.

Cllr Rebecca Charlwood, Leeds City Council executive member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults, said:

“This fresh approach to providing services to meet the needs of people with complex needs such as dementia reflects our wider commitment to delivering improved, modernised services in line with people’s aspirations, such as dedicated day provision.

“In the face of changing demands and expectations for care the council has been making sure we update the support and services we offer. The new complex needs centres we are developing offer a really valuable resource for family carers who require a break to maintain their caring role or continue in employment. By offering planned and targeted support they can help people have a fulfilling life, taking into account their wishes, aspirations and goals while maintaining them in their own home as long as possible.

“By working with people to identify their strengths and what they can do, as much as much as what they now find harder to do, support can be tailored to meet their individual needs. This means people get to live in their own home longer, something we know they generally want to do.”

Bob Fulcher, who has dementia and is actively involved with dementia support work in the city, said:

“The peer support group has made an enormous difference to me. This is a great facility and I hope everyone who uses this centre has as good experience with support as I’ve had.

Cath Roff, director of Adults and Health at Leeds City Council, said:

“We know care needs in the city are changing as we have more people living longer. We’ve asked people about the kinds of support they want and looked at good examples from other places to inform how we change our services. By changing the services we can offer we can meet the changing needs of new generations of people looking for support.

“At the same time, this investment will also provide added value by reducing social isolation and giving a valuable break for family carers, as well as alleviating pressure on other areas of the health and care system. That’s a ‘win, win’ situation for everyone.”

The new complex needs centres will see staff teams work with customers and their family so they are at the heart of developing their own care and support plan.

Services available will include:

• A safe space which is designed to be dementia friendly and flexible

• Information and signposting service

• Carer support groups

• A dementia cafe

• Group activities and one-to-one support, including support with personal care

• Peer support

• Links to other services and expertise, including community psychiatric nurses, physiotherapists, podiatry and a memory clinic

• Links back to local communities and neighbourhood networks

• Health and wellbeing advice, guidance and support

For more information please contact Wykebeck Valley Complex Needs Centre, Wykebeck Valley Road, Leeds LS9 6NR, Tel: 0113 248 3842

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/care-homes-and-housing-options.