Author: Sian McCosh

A ‘design by committee’ approach is proving successful to the development of a planned Short Term Assessment Unit, where people who need extra support can have their needs assessed, in Sefton.

Sefton Council and People First Merseyside have pulled together a group of people with personal experience and knowledge of complex care need, to design the Assessment Unit’s various areas.

By welcoming residents to stay for short periods the Short Term Assessment Unit, which is a joint project between Sefton Council and Riverside Housing, will allow teams to create a detailed support plan catered to their individual needs.

With the floor plans for the Unit on Ainsdale’s Sandbrook Road already created, the co-production group that will mastermind the design of the Unit has been meeting frequently to design its different areas. Through a mixture of virtual and in-person sessions, the group considered the design of the gardens and a sensory room, as well as communal areas, apartments, and furnishings.

Plenty of suggestions were shared across the sessions that considered the needs of the Unit’s users. Discussions included the colour of the furniture, themed areas in the gardens and how to cater to different sensory needs in the dedicated room.

These ideas will be taken to the unit designers and implemented in the final build. The co-production group will continue to meet as the build progresses to share their ideas around different aspects of design of the unit and how the service itself will be run.

Councillor Paul Cummins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said:

“The Short-Term Assessment Unit at Sandbrook will be a vital respite resource for those who require extra support and will allow staff to gain a better understanding of an individual’s needs.

“It is so important to work with people who have expertise through experience to get things right.

“With the hard work and dedication of the members of the Sandbrook Co-production Group, I have total confidence that the Unit will be incredibly well thought out and designed to suit the needs of those who stay there.”

The Short Term Assessment Unit will support people with a learning disability or autism and young people transitioning from children’s services to adult services who have complex care needs. Building work is due to be started next year.

Joanne English, Coordinator for People First Merseyside said:

“I have been so impressed by the commitment to make this piece of work true co-production.

“The involvement of people who may use the service and their families at every stage of the process is a shining example of how to do it right.

“As a result of the wealth of knowledge and experiences of those involved, discussions have been very productive, offering a new perspective and allowing for creativity.

“It has been a pleasure to be involved with this piece of work.”

So far, the group have met to share ideas for the design of communal areas within the Short Term Assessment Unit. Future meetings will be held to help decide how the support service will be shaped and monitor the service once it starts.

Anyone wanting to find out more, or join the co-production group, should visit www.sefton.gov.uk/stau