New respite centre for youngsters

Investment

The Council is set to invest in a new respite centre for Edinburgh youngsters who have additional support needs.

The £2.4m centre, which will be built on part of the former Lismore Primary School site, will provide regular short breaks for young people aged from five to 17 with physical and learning disabilities, as well as an outreach care-at-home service.

Seaview will cater for up to 60 children and their families, and will include a living and sleeping area and specially designed sensory garden.

The new building will have more space and better access and facilities both indoors and out. Unlike the Seaview Children’s Respite Centre in Portobello which it is replacing, it will also have a level surface.

“The centre is vital for families exhausted by demanding care routines but who need to be assured that their youngsters are cared for in a safe and stimulating environment.

“We will fully involve staff and carers in the design of the centre so that it can become a genuine home from home. I am also very pleased that we’ll be able to increase capacity so that even more families can access the support that they need.”

Plans for the centre will be considered at the Council’s Policy and Strategy Committee on 18 January. If agreed, work on the site is expected to begin in spring 2012, with completion in early summer 2013.

Seaview is a residential care service providing regular short breaks for children aged five-17 with a range of learning and/or physical disabilities.

The current residential centre site at Seaview is 0.426 acres, with the proposed new residential site area measuring 1.02 acres.