Water Meadow View, being delivered alongside contractors Integrated Health Projects (IHP) - the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine – will provide 14 beds on a dedicated area of the Guild Park site.
Situated in a green, tranquil space, the building is part of a £32m investment and will welcome patients from across Lancashire and South Cumbria, allowing them to stay closer to their loved ones and communities.
The facility’s name, chosen in partnership with experts by experience and service users, is a reflection of its picturesque, green surroundings which are ideal for mental health recovery.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chris Oliver, said:
“It is great to see our vision coming to life as the steel frame is taking shape. It’s now you can really grasp where things will be located on the site and how fantastic it is going to be for our patients who will be welcomed there, to receive the specialist treatment and support they need. It will be the first of its kind in our area there is no other specialist NHS offer like this within Lancashire and South Cumbria at present.
We are committed to giving people the support they need closer to home and their social connections, which we know is vitally important for those with mental health illnesses but in particular for those who also have a learning disability.
We will continue to work closely with those with lived experience, their families, carers, support groups, as well as colleagues and partners, including the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), to co-produce this new service so that it meets the needs of service users.”
Chris Oliver continued:
“As an organisation, we take our social value responsibility seriously and have been working with IHP and VINCI to host and support our joined efforts to contribute to the local community and beyond. It has been a pleasure to be part of this work and the legacy it will leave behind.”
A number of social value initiatives have been delivered by VINCI Building, including employment and construction educational events, along with the opening of an onsite community skills centre, which has seen local young people who may want a career in the industry attend. A third of the construction and labour resource, including staff, are from the local community and wider Lancashire area, and several local apprentices have also been employed to work on the project, receiving on-the-job training.
Stuart Brown, Construction Director for VINCI Building said:
“With the steel frame now in place, we are well on our way to delivering a fantastic facility for Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust. We are delighted with the progress so far, the teams are working hard and this facility will no doubt improve the experience of patients and support staff and visitors for many years to come”.
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s Chief Nurse, Sarah O’Brien, added:
“It is fantastic to see this new facility really starting to take shape now. Water Meadow View will help to support our aim to reduce the number of out of area placements so more people can receive support and treatment closer to home. It will provide those with a learning disability who require inpatient mental health support a place to get the dedicated help and treatment they deserve.
We will continue to work closely with the Trust as this work continues and look forward to seeing the end result – the first of its kind here in Lancashire and South Cumbria.”
There are also a number of clinical and support job opportunities available, with more to follow in the coming weeks and months, so if this exciting facility sounds like somewhere you would like to work, keep an eye out on our social media channels including Instagram and Facebook.
