Deal To Develop First Dementia Centres of Excellence Agreed

Proposals to create the first state of the art Dementia Centres of Excellence in Staffordshire reached a major milestone today (Thursday) as plans to develop them were formally agreed.

The multi-million pound flagship centres will be developed by partner Symphony – a consortium made up of the Accord Group, Keepmoat and Quattro Architects, in Lichfield and Burton and promise to transform care and support for residents and their families throughout their condition.

The projects will create a home-like environment where residents will be able to hold family gatherings, keep pets and have access to communal areas and facilities such as a café. Support, including nursing care, will be provided as and when residents require additional care as their condition changes.

Today Staffordshire County Council and the Symphony consortium signed a contract to develop the centres, which are expected to open in 2017 – with overall places increasing from 109 in the three residential homes currently run by the council to 135 in the centres of excellence.

Cllr Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: “These dementia centres of excellence will absolutely transform the way people receive care and support and I am delighted that we have finalised these exciting plans with Symphony today.

“The two flagship centres will create a real home-like environment and offer a support network which will make a huge difference to residents with dementia.”

Staffordshire County Council and Symphony will continue to work closely with residents, families and staff to allow the smooth transfer from Bracken House, in Burntwood, Meadwyrthe in Tamworth and Hillfield House in Stretton in 2017. Locations for the new centres have still to be finalised.

Lakbhir Jaspal, Deputy Group Chief Executive of the Accord Group, on behalf of the Symphony consortium, said: “This is a really exciting partnership deal with Staffordshire County Council and we are delighted to be delivering two new dementia centres of excellence.  The new centres will bring innovative thinking to the design of homes for people with dementia coupled with first-rate care.”

“The Accord Group are leaders in dementia excellence and have a successful track record of running services for those with dementia around a care model called the ‘Eden Alternative’ which the new centres will be based on.”