Liverpool plans revamp of mental health facilities

Liverpool City Council is planning on a £250,000 revamp of two day centres for people with mental health problems.

A report to the city council's cabinet meeting on 20 January is recommending the work is carried out at Crown Street near the city centre and Unicorn Road in Croxteth, which support around 150 people.

Under the plans a third centre at South Drive in Wavertree, which the council says does not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, will close and staff and the 47 people who use it will transfer to the two other locations.

A consultation has already has already started with people affected by the proposed change.

The changes are part of a shake-up of day care services, which will also see another six "health and wellbeing hubs" created.

Cllr Roz Gladden, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "This is part of a wider plan to modernise services for people who need mental health support.

"We are going to be putting more of an emphasis on getting people well again so that they don't become dependent upon services in the longer term.

"We are moving to a system where we have social care hubs around the city which will offer a wide range of drop in services providing the type of support which will mean people can live independently.

"This is a significant investment in a new kind of care facility which is completely changing the way in which we deliver services.

"We are moving to a system where we are focused on meeting people's individual needs, rather than having to choose from a fixed menu of social care services."

The six centres being created are: Lime Court in Kensington; the Lancaster Centre in Walton; Speke Resource Centre; a new dementia centre at Sedgemoor Care Home in Norris Green; stroke support at Venmore Care Home in Everton; and a service for people who have suffered a fall at Granby Care Home in Toxteth.