Multi-million pound investment approved for Aberdeen care facilities

Investment in vital social care projects totalling more than £22million has been approved by Aberdeen City Council.

Social Care and Wellbeing Committee members unanimously backed capital spending on two ongoing projects for 2013/14 – and supported a series of new-build and major refurbishment schemes which will be carried out by 2018.

This financial year will see a further £31,000 invested in the £650,000 scheme to create an integrated drugs service involving the City Council, NHS Grampian, the police and voluntary sector partner – and a further £155,000 pumped into the new £912,000 Marchburn House children’s residential unit.

New projects included in capital plans over the next five years include:

  •  a new £4.4million two-story building at the existing Burnside Centre to provide daytime occupational support for people with physical and learning disabilities, weekend and evening space for the local community, and office space for 40 Community Learning Disability Team members from the City Council and NHS Grampian;
  •  £1.5million for children’s home upgrades to ensure they meet Care Commission standards;
  •  £150,000 to upgrade the Quarry Centre, which offers specialist child care and support to families facing issues like disability, substance misuse, homelessness and children with challenging behaviour;
  •  £200,000 to refurbish the Craigielea Children’s Centre, which proves an alternative to residential care by helping young people aged 10–16 overcome their difficulties and remain living at home;
  •  £250,000 to modernise Fergus House older people’s home, which provides accommodation for 43 residents;
  •  £500,000 to modernise Balnagask House care home, which provides accommodation for 30 residents, with full en-suite rooms and better communal areas, along with respire facilities for carers;
  •  £2million to provide a hydrotherapy pool and therapy gym at Rosewell House care home;
  •  £13million to create an extra-care village in the heart of Tillydrone, complete with a community hub.

Detailed plans for the projects will be drawn up in due course.

Social Care and Wellbeing convener Councillor Len Ironside CBE said: “The scale of this investment over the coming years shows the depth of the City Council’s commitment to providing the very best services we possibly can for the most vulnerable people in our community.

“We are pledging to create better facilities for older people, for disadvantaged youngsters, for adults in need of specialist care and for families who need assistance. Local authority budgets are extremely tight but we are finding imaginative ways of using capital receipts, grant funding and prudent borrowing to ensure those who need our services most can enjoy the facilities they deserve.”