On 24 April, local charity Brunelcare attended the ‘topping out’ ceremony for the development of a new 64-bed care home and 24-bed reablement service, to be named Little Heath, located in Cadbury Heath, South Gloucestershire.
The topping out ceremony, which traditionally signifies the structure has reached its maximum height, was attended by representatives from Stepnell and Bristol based charity Brunelcare, along with two representatives from Cadbury Heath Healthcare.
Due to complete in early 2020, the two and three storey development will be operated by Bristol housing and care provider Brunelcare and will replace the former Heath Resources Centre and the former South Gloucestershire Council Newton House Care Home on the site.
Kevin Fairman, CEO Brunelcare, comments: “It is good to see the development reach this milestone. Opening Little Heath means Brunelcare will be able to increase the number of care home places it currently provides, along with expanding our already very successful reablement service, supporting people returning home from hospital. This development will also provide over 100 new jobs, for both our existing employees and new recruits, in order to run this new service.”
James Harris, Stepnell project manager, says: “We are really excited to reach this significant milestone in the delivery of this much-needed care scheme, providing high-standard care facilities to support the specialist needs of elderly people in the South Gloucestershire community.”
A unique feature of the site is the inclusion of two GP consulting rooms. Brunelcare will be working in partnership with Cadbury Heath Healthcare who will be providing GP services in the reablement centre and the care home, with a GP base on site Monday to Friday.
Kath Horne, managing partner of Cadbury Heath Healthcare, says: “The partners of Cadbury Heath Healthcare are delighted to be working in collaboration with Little Heath. Working together we can help to improve the health and wellbeing of our local community. We are really excited by this venture and the opportunity it brings.”
Designed and built to support the specialist needs of elderly people and people living with dementia, Little Heath care home will provide 64 en-suite bedrooms, dining and servery areas, as well as shared community amenities including communal lounges, a hair and beauty salon, function room and shop, plus fitness and gym facilities.
The scheme’s connecting Reablement Centre will offer separate accommodation and rehabilitation services for people leaving hospital in need of temporary step-down care before returning home. This facility will provide a further 24 en-suite bedrooms, a rehabilitation gym, shared lounge and dining facilities, and a kitchen to help residents regain their confidence and independence.
Roberts Limbrick Architects has designed the new centre to create a familiar and secure living environment for residents. The fully accessible scheme is being built to provide the best practice in care, giving residents a secure home-style environment that can still support specific individual care needs and which can help people live more independently.
Externally, the scheme will incorporate separate and secure garden spaces, including fruit and vegetable beds, sensory spaces with tactile, scented and intelligent planting schemes which residents can use and enjoy.
Pictured: (left to right) Kevin Fairman, Brunelcare CEO, James Harris, Stepnell project manage and Chris Faulkner, Stepnell regional director
