Help for vulnerable people
Longhurst Group members provide a
comprehensive range of care and support services for some of the
most vulnerable people in society.
In the Midlands, Friendship Care and
Housing supports almost 1,000 people through services
for older individuals and those with learning disabilities or
mental health problems. It also runs seven registered care homes in
Birmingham and Warwickshire, in accordance with the highest
standards laid down by the independent Care Quality Commission.
The strong confidence that providers have in
the quality of our care was underlined when Friendship secured a
new £2.5 million contract in 2010 with Birmingham City
Council to provide 50,000 hours of housing and
floating support services for people with mental health issues or
learning disabilities.
In line with our Group-wide
equality
and diversity policy, some of our services are
culturally-dedicated. This means they have been carefully
designed to be sensitive to the culture and background of a
particular ethnic group. For example, Friendship runs a
mental health support service in Sandwell specifically for Asian
people experiencing mental ill-health and a Birmingham care home
for older people with an African Caribbean heritage.
Another of our members, L&H Homes, helps
other vulnerable individuals, for example by providing supported
housing for offenders released from custody. For homeless people,
those with mental health issues or others needing general support
to manage a tenancy, L&H provides a range of services through
Havelok
Plus.
For adults with a physical disability,
Havelok
at Home delivers care and support in Grimsby and the
surrounding areas. L&H also runs a purpose-built
care home in Lincoln for young adults with physical
disabilities.
Working to help adults of all ages, Spire
Homes offers a range of supported
housing to help disabled people live independently, as
well as 24-hour telephone support through lifeline services
available in
East Northamptonshire and Rutland.
In East Northamptonshire and Wellingborough,
Spire is also responsible for Care and
Repair. This home improvement agency carries out
repairs and adaptations to help people with disabilities remain in
their own homes in comfort and security.
Care and Repair offers a second service in
partnership with East Northamptonshire Council and the Borough
Council of Wellingborough to help vulnerable owner occupiers and
private tenants in East Northamptonshire and Wellingborough. The
handyperson service carries out very simple but
essential works such as small repairs and jobs around the home at a
reasonable cost.
Spire Homes also offers grants through its
Community Safety Fund to older people and other vulnerable
individuals in the East Northamptonshire area to improve security
at home.
In addition to these services, Longhurst Group
provides help for older
people, help for
young people, respite care, and advocacy and advice.