A new £3.3m building which helps people with a learning disability in Sheffield has been officially opened with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

The new building, called Firshill Rise Intensive Support Service, which is located in Firshill is funded and managed by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust (SHSC).

The building provides state-of-the-art facilities, incorporating inpatient and community based services for people with additional complex needs around mental health and/or behaviour that challenges. The new facilities include a high-tech sensory room, to help services users relax, which is equipped with soft lights that can be programmed to change colour, a projector to show clouds on the ceiling and a sensory wall, studded with instruments which people are encouraged to touch.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Professor Alan Walker, Chairman of SHSC and Rex Coldwell, a patient, to mark the official opening of the building.

Kevan Taylor, Chief Executive of SHSC, who attended the opening, said: “I am delighted to see the opening of this new facility. This is another opportunity for us to help support some of the more vulnerable people in Sheffield and I hope that service users will find this new modern facility helps to meet their requirements even better. It is an exciting opportunity for significant service development for those clients with the most complex needs.”

The new service will provide a nationally leading edge  which focuses heavily on early intervention and working proactively with individuals, their families and other service providers to support people in their community setting to reduce unnecessary admission to the bed based part of the service.

The service brings together skilled and experienced staff from three existing services that include a range of health professionals including psychiatry, nursing, psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and development workers. Following national evidence about the best practice, there will be a focus on early intervention work so that individuals and their carers, receive expert help at an early stage.

John Tomlinson Assistant Clinical Director, for the Joint Learning Disability Service and the Intensive Support Service, at SHSC, said: “The whole philosophy is to give service users the most appropriate expert support in a timely manner.

“The new service aims to provide support around the individual, whether this is at home or within the bed based service should they require a period of assessment and treatment within a safe environment.

“We believe this will provide a more effective seamless service, working in close partnership with other providers, resulting in the most positive outcomes for individuals.”

Cllr Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Independent Living said:  “We are very pleased with the new support service which shows us what can be achieved when we work together with our partners across the city.”

“The centre targets some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities so I am delighted that we are able to provide them with up to date, state-of-the art facilities.

“Along with the new building, is a new service which includes the merger of three teams who are now known as the Intensive Support Service. The joining of these teams allows us to work better as a joint service with our colleagues in the Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust making sure we offer advice, treatment, and support in the most effective way possible.”

The new building incorporates eight beds, including two self contained flats, as well as a series of clinical and activity rooms that can be used by community and bed based service users. The aims of the service will be to prevent inappropriate admissions into a hospital environment or, ensure service users spend the least amount of time there and are able to return home sooner.

The new facility which was commissioned by NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), replaces previous facilities based in the grounds of the Northern General Hospital.

Heather Burns, Senior Commissioning Manager for NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group/ Sheffield City Council said:” We have had a joint aspiration between SHSC and NHS Sheffield, now Sheffield CCG, to improve services to people whose behaviour can challenge those around them.  I want to thank all of the staff in the service for their continued commitment to delivering an excellent service, now and into the future. Thanks also to the Boards of SHSC and NHS Sheffield CCG for agreeing the plans in full, to enable us to jointly achieve our aspirations for meeting the needs of this group of people with complex needs.”