Last year, we revealed plans for an accelerated period of expansion within our brain injury rehabilitation portfolio and have recently celebrated the opening of two new specially adapted brain injury rehabilitation facilities! Linnet Mews and Cleadon Court were officially onboarded to our portfolio this spring, with the third spoke of our project wheel, Knot House, set to open this autumn.

Cementing our commitment to those who have suffered brain injuries, this month, our esteemed brain injury operations team assembled at Merseyside based service, Lorenzo Drive, to mark the beginning of a new era for both the service and our development plans.

Extending expertise

Renowned for our innovative approach to developing specialist brain injury rehabilitation services, we identified a unique opportunity at our existing residential service Lorenzo Drive, located in the suburbs of Liverpool. Situated within a generous plot, this service is wrapped by ample space, allowing opportunity to expand the accommodation we currently offer at Lorenzo Drive.

Built in 2017, Lorenzo Drive is a 16-bed residential support service offering long-term rehabilitation and continued care for people who have suffered brain injuries. Highly praised by governing bodies like the CQC, the service has remained in high demand since we welcomed our first housemates seven years ago.

Maintaining our goal of rehabilitating people with brain injuries back to a level of independence that’s right for them, Lorenzo Drive has successfully fulfilled these aspirations over the past seven years. Many of the people supported here are now ready to step down to accommodation that allows for added independence.

Armed with this knowledge, as well as insights into local need through close collaboration links, our empowered brain injury team set their sights on new development plans. By introducing an additional building to the Lorenzo Drive site, our expert staff team would have scope to diversify their current support offering through independent living opportunities for current residents – and simultaneously open sought after residential support opportunities in the main building.

With planning permission in place, we’re entering an exciting new era at Lorenzo Drive, extending our expertise to those who need essential brain injury support in both the local area and further afield.

Starting ceremony

Blessed with beaming sunshine, our brain injury operations team, including Director Michael Chawatama and Operations Director Vicki Bennett, ventured to Lorenzo Drive in Liverpool for a special ceremony marking the start of construction at the site.

Reuniting with teammates, including Placements Manager Louise Houghton and Operations Manager Carly Dempsey, we enjoyed an exclusive sneak peek of the construction site and watched on as work got underway.

But the diggers soon came to a halt as we paved way for two special guests! Donned in hard hats and hi-vis jackets, the guests of honour made their way to where the foundations of the new independent living accommodation will be laid.

Proudly watched on by Service Manager John Paul McNally and housemates at Lorenzo Drive, resident entertainer Billy, took centre stage alongside housemate Julie, to lay the first brick at the site.

This occasion held extra special sentiment as Billy laid the first brick for Lorenzo Drive’s main residential building back in 2017 and has lived at the service receiving long-term support ever since.

Sharing the limelight with Julie, who will be the first person to move into the new independent living accommodation, Billy ceremoniously passed the brick to Julie. Together, they painted their initials on the brick, symbolising a fusion of the past with the future, and laid it within the foundations.

Sparked with enthusiasm, Billy and Julie expressed how exciting the process had been for them and their fellow housemates at Lorenzo Drive. From the initial consultation period, through to the ceremonial passing of the brick, Billy, Julie, and everyone supported at Lorenzo Drive were an integral part of the planning process.

Operations Manager Carly Dempsey relayed the importance of involving those supported at Lorenzo Drive:

“It’s important to allow people the opportunity to reclaim their independence and progress to living autonomously. We don’t want people to become institutionalised and live in residential settings if they’ve rehabilitated past that. It’s important we’re able to offer them independent living in a community environment that mirrors what their lives might have been like before their brain injury.”

Carly Dempsey, Operations Manager

Building for the future

As well as offering immediate opportunities for current people we support, building at one of our existing sites ensures sustainability of specialist rehab support into the future. With the addition of independent living accommodation, Lorenzo Drive will offer the full package for holistic brain injury support – from residential support in the main building, to transitional and supported living in the new apartment complex.

Comprising of twelve separate accommodations, the new site will be split into two wings. On one side, a suite of four bungalows with front doors and rear gardens will be appointed, along with a second suite of eight interlinked apartments to the other. Both bungalows and apartments will restore independence for future occupants and promote essential integration with the local community.

For Louise, being included in the design process has been vital to ensuring the new accommodation will meet the needs of those with brain injuries:

“As a Placements Manager, I assess people when they’re at the start of their rehabilitation journeys. I gain an understanding of what their needs are and what they need from their future homes, so they can reach their goals and achieve independence. During the design process, we agreed on 12 apartments spilt into wings, one of which features a suite of four bungalows with their own front doors – not only does this give added independence, but it also enables a sense of responsibility and trust, both of which are vital to someone’s rehab progression.”

As part of our commitment to reaching net zero carbon emissions, our Property Development team are kitting-out the new accommodation with a suite of sustainability features. Ensuring the building is thermally efficient to reduce both heat loss and consumption, the addition of solar panels will further support this mission by generating electricity for the building.

Community connections

Loyal to the local area, our existing staff team at Lorenzo Drive herald from surrounding Norris Green, with Service Manager John Paul McNally born and bred locally and still living in the area today. As active members of the community, John Paul and the team have established close community ties with bordering businesses and neighbouring residents – vital for the welfare and wellbeing of those we support at Lorenzo Drive.

Increasing our capacity to support even more people with brain injuries, we will soon start recruiting additional team members at Lorenzo Drive. Emphasising the importance of empowering individuals to live with independence, we will be recruiting for an additional 45 roles from the local community, including a dedicated Therapy Lead and additional Support Workers.

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