Residents with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism and complex physical needs are benefitting from newly refurbished facilities at Wray Court, an Islington Council supported-housing scheme in Finsbury Park, N4.
A team of live-in and live-out social workers have also moved to the facility from Ashley Road - a residential home set up in 1988 to support people with learning disabilities.
Cllr John Gilbert, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Islington and Council said: "Put simply, the council supports people with disabilities to lead more fulfilling lives. So I am delighted to be joining the Mayor in officially re-opening Wray Court which is giving eight residents an excellent quality of life with more choice and more involvement in decisions about their everyday lives.
"People with disabilities are usually better off in their communities - rather than hospitals - and can be supported to do things that the rest of us enjoy like spending time with friends, going to the pub or cinema or shopping."
Wray Court will enhance the Council's ability to support people back into the community. As well as having 24 hour staff cover, social workers work closely with the local health care team for people with learning disabilities and use the services of specialists such as psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.
All staff are trained in communication techniques such as symbols, pictures or makaton. Care plans treat service users as individuals with their own interests and hobbies from which to choose. Individuals' likes and preferences are reflected in the way the home is operated - suggestions and complaints are taken up as part of regular quality assurance audits.
The Wray Court premises have been completely refurbished and extended and now sport a solar panel thanks to a contribution from Islington Council's Climate Change Fund.
The expanded accommodation is fully disabled accessible and has room for three more residents than the building from which this service was previously provided.
Wray Court opened in 1991, to provide a short-term respite service for users with learning disabilities. Following consultation with users and carers a decision was made last year to relocate the longer-term accommodation service to Wray Court.
Photo captions:
1. Wray Court Manager Bright Okyere with client Trevor Morris and his mum Carol Morris.
2. Cllr John Gilbert, Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Care, Islington Council with client Trevor Morris and his mum Carol Morris.
ENDS
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008