Specialist Day Services for People with Dementia

The service is aimed at providing daytime support and activities to those people with a diagnosis of dementia whose needs are such that they are best met by a service able to provide a level of specialist support not readily available in mainstream or other social care settings. The service will provide support to Service Users ordinarily resident in the borough.

The service will utilise a single building, Wilshaw House, Ashton-under-Lyne, in delivering that part of the service that is required to be building-based. Wilshaw House is owned and maintained by the commissioner and other local authority functions may take place elsewhere within the buildings.

There is no expectation that the Provider will be charged rent While part of the service will be building-based, there will also be flexible and responsive person-centred support for Service Users to access and engage with external mainstream and community facilities. This could be either in small groups or as individual integrated activities, wherever this is possible or practicable.

The Provider will provide up to 140 building-based places per week as an indicative figure. Other Service Users will be supported to utilise a community day service element that would provide an additional eight day places, seven days a week, ie another 56 weekly places, giving a combined total of 196 places a week.

As a consequence of the severity and progress of their dementia, some Service Users are likely to require assistance with aspects of personal care. The Provider will need to make provision for the arrangement of the safe and reliable transport of Service Users to and from the Service, where Service Users require it.

The catchment area could include any part of the borough. Transport may require the use of a mini bus or mini buses of a number to be agreed, which the Provider will be responsible for providing and maintaining.

Support Staff will drive and act as escort on these buses. Meals make a major contribution to Service Users' participation in and enjoyment of daily living routines.

Mealtimes are recognised as an important social occasion, as well as being an important and necessary element in the routine of some Service Users. The Provider will ensure that meals are available to all Service Users on a flexible basis.

For example, some Service Users will prefer a hot, lunchtime meal as their choice. For further details please refer to https://www.the-chest.org.uk/