New Walsall support service creating 60 jobs

ECHO Supported Living Services is opening a new service in Walsall to enable people in long-term hospital placements to return to living in their own community.

The six houses, owned by housing association Auckland, are being adapted to meet the needs of each service user, who will have the opportunity to furnish and decorate their homes as they wish.

The project will create up to 60 jobs for local people.

Individuals, who may have a severe learning disability, autism or complex behaviours will be supported to lead as independent a life as possible.

Staff will be trained and have the necessary skills to understand and minimise complex behaviours to support each person in their own home.

Priorities

ECHO (Enhanced Community Home Options) support staff work with service users, and their families to develop personalised support plans based on goals, aspirations, priorities and skills, and encompassing all aspects of daily living.

Sharena Record, ECHO Supported Living Services regional operations director for the Midlands and registered manager for the service, said: “This new service delivers the transforming care agenda, to enable people from the Black Country who have been in hospital for a long time to return to their local community.

“Local commissioners have worked with us to develop a service that meets their needs and those of service users who will receive the support they need to lead fulfilling lives, with as much independence as possible.

“We will work with them, their families and advocates to ensure they have choices in all aspects of their daily lives by developing an individual plan, agreed by the service user and other important people involved in their lives.

“Opportunities will be available for local people to work within the service and we make it a priority to provide comprehensive training to ensure all staff have the necessary skills to provide truly person-centred care.”