Eden Futures established four new developments during 2022 increasing the care and support it provides to over 650 service users across 150 sites.  The investment in accommodation in Coventry, Rotherham and Pudsey helped the company grow its service user base by forty-nine units and these will continue to drive company growth alongside new developments in 2023.

Looking forward to 2023, Helen Stokes, Chief Executive Officer, says: “We’re continuing to work closely with all our stakeholders, including registered housing providers and commissioners, to provide much-needed services. Our plans include expansion in Stoke and Leeds and adding complementary sites in Newark, Crewe and Nuneaton. We’ve also identified new areas of growth and will be establishing services in these communities in the next 12-18 months.”

Helen adds: “Despite the sustained lack of funding for the health and social care sector generally, the rising cost of living and workforce challenges, we’ve had a huge focus within the organisation on our people strategy, including attracting, recruiting, and retaining our team – which has shown significant success. We retained our Advanced (Gold) Investors in People (IIP) standard at the end of 2022, putting us in the top 2% of IIP organisations which is a significant achievement.

“We’re proud to have our Eden Influencers and Expert Partners – who are a cross-section of our workforce and those with lived experience – helping us to shape our People Plan and to ensure high quality service delivery.  We have great initiatives planned for 2023 so we can continue to make Eden Futures a great place to work.  Sustained progress and investment are vital so that vulnerable adults across the country can live in appropriate settings and receive the care and support they need in the community.”

New specialist independent living accommodation has opened in West Yorkshire. The supported living service in Stanningley near Pudsey, West Yorkshire contains twelve self-contained apartments and eight specialist bungalows within a purpose-built development. Eden Futures will deliver the 24/7 care and support for people living there, creating 40 jobs.

The development is a collaboration by developer Pudsey SSL Limited, registered provider Blue Square Residential, the commissioning teams of NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Leeds City Council, and Eden Futures.

Yvette Keenoy, area manager, says: “We deliver the support services for people aged 18 and over, most of whom have autism, a learning disability or mental health needs. We support people to be as independent as possible and help them achieve their goals. We’re delighted to expand our services locally in Stanningley and look forward to welcoming people soon.”

Kevin Ritchie, Councillor for Bramley & Stanningley Ward and Disability Champion, Leeds City Council, said: “I’m pleased to see this exciting development to support adults with learning disabilities and other health needs. There is a great need for appropriate, supported and fully accessible accommodation, to enable people to live as fully and independently as possible. I welcome the residents to the area and look forward to linking them in with other third sector partners in the City to join in the many activities that improve life skills, build confidence and wellbeing and help lead fulfilling lives.”

Katy Peters, supported living manager, Blue Square Residential, adds: “Back in 2019, Leeds CCG identified a gap in service provision so Stanningley was developed, in partnership with them, to meet the needs of this cohort. We’ve provided brand-new, purpose-built accommodation and enhanced support options within the city boundary. The service will enable the CCG to reduce delays in hospital discharges, avoid hospital admissions and repatriate individuals who are currently placed out-of-area.”

Dave Whittock, Eden Futures’ director of service development, concludes: “We’re moving forward with our plans to meet the shortage of specialist supported living services which are much needed in communities. We welcome applications for support worker posts for Stanningley as they‘re integral to the support network we provide. We’re looking for people to join us who don’t just work in the sector already, but those people with no experience who share our company values and want an alternative career as full training is provided.”

New specialist independent living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs has opened in Coventry. The supported living service in Willenhall, Coventry consists of fifteen purpose-built apartments.

Eden Futures has been operating in Coventry for over 10 years, however, it’s the company’s first partnership venture of a newly built development. It’ll be managed by Auckland Home Solutions CIC as the registered social landlord and will allow individuals to live independently, have their own secure tenancy agreement and benefit from Eden Futures’ 24/7 care and support.

Dave Whittock, director of service development, says: “This new bespoke accommodation complements our existing services in the city and enables us to expand our services, with the aim of moving people out of long-term residential care to live more independently with professional support.

“We welcome applications for support worker posts for Willenhall as they‘re integral to the support network we provide. We’re looking for people to join us who don’t just work in the sector already, but those people with no experience who want an alternative career as full training is provided from the start.”

Claire Batsford, CEO, Auckland Home Solutions CIC, says: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Eden Futures and Coventry City Council to bring new supported living apartments to Coventry. Often individuals are housed away from friends and family in places that can deprive them of their independence. We work proactively to provide a front door and, a place to call home, in high quality accommodation. The people who’ll live here will benefit from a home which is purpose-designed and built to meet their needs, including the addition of assistive technology.”

If you’re interested in joining our team visit https://www.edenfutures.org/work-for-us/search-jobs/ or email recruitment@nulledenfutures.org.

New specialist independent living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities, autism or complex care needs has opened in Chesterfield. Based in Chesterfield Street, Brampton, the 12-bed supported living service has welcomed its first person who moved into one of the site’s specialist bungalows.

Built by developer Fineroad Ltd for registered provider Inclusion Housing and the commissioning team of Derbyshire County Council. Eden Futures has been appointed by the Council to deliver the care and support packages for the people living there, creating new jobs.

Leah Holroyd, area manager, says: “We support people to be as independent as possible and to achieve what they want to with their lives. We’re delighted to extend our support services locally and look forward to welcoming more people soon and help them settle into their new homes.”

Sarah Waters, business director, Inclusion Housing, adds: “We’re delighted to see this new Eden Futures development open to move people out of residential care and into supported living. The development already has a healthy pipeline of enquiries.”

Dave Whittock, director of service development at Eden Futures, says: “Despite the challenges of the pandemic we’re moving forward with our plans to meet the shortage of specialist supported living services which are much needed in communities. We welcome applications for support worker posts for the Chesterfield service.

“With plans for new services in the Midlands, Yorkshire and North East, we’re recruiting for 250 further posts over the next few years. We want to attract people who don’t just work in the sector already, but those with no experience who want a new and exciting career. We’ll ensure team members are equipped with the skills and necessary training to provide specialist assistance for the people we care for and support.”

If you know someone who might benefit from a supported living place in Chesterfield, you can email referrals@nulledenfutures.org.

To join Eden Futures’ team, visit https://www.edenfutures.org/work-for-us/search-jobs/ or email recruitment@nulledenfutures.org

Less than a year since its opening, Eden Futures’ supported living development in Nuneaton is nearly full, with plans in place for a further development to be built in the town in the coming years to add extra capacity.

The development, in a central location of Attleborough, includes fourteen self-contained apartments for people with learning disabilities, mental ill health and autism. Eden Futures was appointed by Warwickshire County Council to deliver the care and support packages for the people living there.

Dave Parsons, Team Manager, said: “We support people to be as independent as possible and to achieve what they want to with their lives. The development has been successful in moving people, who are working age adults, out of residential care and into supported living within their own community.

“The high level of enquiries and referrals for placements is such that we could fill the remaining apartments tomorrow, but we need to recruit more staff before we can do that. We’re actively looking for eight permanent members of staff to join our team of support workers in Nuneaton.”

Dave Whittock, director of service development, says: “Commissioned by adult social care services and delivered by Eden Futures, in partnership with registered provider Inclusion Housing, this development is an important part of local services. But we urgently need more specialist staff to support people, not just here in Warwickshire, but across the country. This takes the pressure off acute care and hospitals and allows people to live independently.”

J lives in the development and is supported by Eden Futures’ team. She says: “I’ve really struggled with my mental health over the years, so badly that I tried to take my own life, meaning that I now need support from staff for a lot of the day.

“I was so ill that I stayed in a hospital for two years and whilst I still tended to self-harm, medication helped me a lot. This enabled me to move out of hospital into supported living about three months ago, and I’ve been doing well. The care and support the Eden Futures team give me is great, the best I’ve experienced really. It’s helping me to overcome my anxiety and worries about living by myself, which is giving me a brighter outlook on life.”

To join Eden Futures’ team please visit the jobs page or email recruitment@nulledenfutures.org