The names of two new care homes in Carlisle and Copeland have been publicly revealed today at a meeting of Full Council by Cllr Patricia Bell, Cabinet Member for Health and Care. The announcement follows the formal hand over by contractor Eric Wright Construction Ltd to the county council.
Carlisle’s new home will be called Burnrigg Court, whilst Copeland’s will be known as The Gables.
The names were identified following discussions with our existing residents who will be moving into the new homes and our staff. Burnrigg Court relates to the history and locality of the Carlisle home whilst for the Whitehaven new care home one of our residents said that as the new care home is located near where all the roads from different communities meet it should be called The Gables. This reflects the situation that in both new care homes, residents from existing homes will move in to the new modern care home, bringing together local communities.
Registered managers have now been appointed for both homes and staff have started to visit Burnrigg Court in Carlisle. For both homes there is still a significant amount of work to be completed in respect of furnishing the care home, staff training and completion of CQC registration. Once this is complete we can start to move our existing residents into the new care homes.
Feedback from staff about the “light, airy and modern buildings” has been positive and staff are keen to move into the new homes and support our residents in these fantastic facilities. Our newly appointed registered managers are also looking forward to the challenge ahead.
Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Care, Cllr Patricia Bell, said: “I’m delighted to be able to reveal the names of these fantastic new care homes – they have been delivered ahead of the original schedule and within budget.
“It has been a huge combined effort from the service managers, the council’s capital programme team and the contractors to achieve this whilst ensuring that the needs of staff and residents have been reflected in all the decisions around the design, build and names. The new care homes will provide a fantastic facility to their local communities.”
Tracy Bindokas, manager of the new Carlisle Care Home – Burnrigg Court, said: “I look forward to the new, exciting challenge ahead. The building is beautiful and will benefit the service users and staff with the modern systems that are in place as well as the en-suite facilities and the safe access to the outside areas for each service user. The layout of the public area of the building, the outside areas and the facility for a shop will give us opportunity to engage with the local community. I look at this opportunity as a new adventure for myself, staff, service users and the community.”
Helen Green, manager of the new Copeland Care Home – The Gables, said: “I am really looking forward to moving to the new Copeland home, it is exciting times for everyone, staff and service users. I am sure we will face a few challenges along the way which we will all work through together as a team, to ensure service users feel happy and safe, in their new home, and to make the transition as smooth as possible.”
Council Leader Stewart Young and Cllr Patricia Bell recently met with Eric Wright at the new £6m Carlisle Care Home.
Construction on the 60-bed Copeland home in Whitehaven is now complete and local members met senior representatives from Eric Wright Construction Ltd on the 8th February.
With both homes scheduled to open to residents in Spring 2019, the next few months are a going to be an important time for everyone involved in these significant projects.
A third new council care home – Parkview Gardens in Barrow – successfully opened in 2017.
The three new care homes will provide modern quality care for older adults, especially those who need to be supported with dementia and complex care needs in a residential setting. We are continuing to invest in our other Residential homes across Cumbria to ensure they will also continue to provide modern quality care to all of our residents.
