People using the Parkhill Lodge Residential Service will be consulted on where they would like to live if Rotherham Council’s Cabinet gives the go ahead.
Sixteen adults with learning disabilities moved from Parkhill Lodge at Maltby to live at Lord Hardy Court at Rawmarsh in October 2020 when a significant COVID outbreak among residents and staff could not contained due to the building’s outdated design and layout.
A report, which will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet on 16 August 2021, sets out the challenges of maintaining the service at Parkhill Lodge, including:
- Outdated building not offering a lifestyle attractive to younger adults, with many shared bathrooms.
- Small bedrooms – limiting space for personal possessions.
- Needs an estimated £189,000 to be spent within the next 5 years on updating the heating system and replacing rotten timberwork.
The report includes two options; for residents to either return to live at Parkhill Lodge or to remain living at Lord Hardy Court for the medium term. Council officers are recommending the second option.
Councillor David Roche, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health said:“The move to Lord Hardy Court was only intended to be temporary because of the Covid outbreak. With the high rate of infections in Rotherham Lord Hardy Court is still the safest option in the short term. However, we do want to consult with residents, their families and advocates about remaining at Lord Hardy Court even after the dangers of the pandemic have eased.”
If the Cabinet agrees, the consultation will run for six weeks, from 23 August 2021 to 22 September 2021.
