Work is continuing on a new £850,000 community care hub in Belle Vale, Liverpool.

The new facility is being created at Besford House after Liverpool City Council and NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) successfully bid for funding from NHS England to create the modern accommodation for people with autism and learning difficulties.

The project involves complete refurbishing the 16-bed centre with new decorating, carpet and flooring, as well as new bathroom suites, kitchens and furniture.

With the scheme now entering its final phase, once finished Besford House will help to free up valuable hospital beds, relieving some of the pressures facing the NHS and cutting costs.

The council and CCG have joined forces with city-based social care charity, Alternative Futures Group (AFG), who will run the centre and provide a range of services for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues


The improvements are part of a £30 million plan to transform adult social care services in Liverpool, which also includes three new dementia care centres.

Cllr Paul Brant said: "The improvements at Besford House will provide a fantastic new centre for people with learning disabilities. The facility will be pivotal in allowing people to retain as much independence as they possibly can whilst still receiving the support they need.

"We are looking forward to working with Alternative Futures Group (AFG) to see this exciting new centre take shape."

AFG Regional Director, Kathy Farmer, said: "We're delighted to be working closely with Liverpool City Council on Besford House. It's an example of the way that AFG is working innovatively in the community to provide a wide range of leading-edge and bespoke care services delivering life-enhancing person-centred support to people with a diverse range of care needs. We're really pleased to be in the vanguard of the Transforming Care agenda with Liverpool City Council."

Image: Inspecting the new look Besford House are Liverpool City Council's Director of Adult Services Dyane Aspinall, Cabinet Member of Health and Adult Social Care Cllr Paul Brant, AFG  Director for Corporate and Commercial Development Ian Pritchard and Regional Director Kathy Farmer.

(LM/MH)