Vince Cable

A brand new purpose built care home for people with autism and learning disabilities has just opened in Lichfield Lane, Whitton. The home, which provides care and accommodation for seven young adults aged 18-25, is the second such home to be opened in the borough in the last two years by the Hampton Hill based London Care Partnership.

The grand opening held on Friday 2^nd September was attended by over fifty people, including parents, neighbours, staff and residents from London Care Partnership. Other guests included health and social service professionals from several London boroughs as well as Richmond's local learning disability charity, Stepping on Out.

Local MP Dr. Vincent Cable officially opened the facility after a tour from staff and residents.

Dr. Cable commented, "I have long been involved in the issue of care home standards and also improving long term care for children and adults. The problem often occurs when a young person leaves school or college. There is a lack of specialist resource and understanding of autism and related conditions. I am concerned about this and obviously the council is too.''

Many London boroughs have to place individuals in homes far away from their family home because there is nothing available for them locally. Typically more than half of all people with disabilities live outside of the borough.

Dr. Cable emphasised Richmond Borough's commitment to its Commissioning Strategy by ensuring that people with learning disabilities live inside the borough or locality.

"I opened the first London Care Partnership home in Hampton Hill a year or so ago. It is an absolutely brilliant facility, well designed and exactly right in giving people support, protection and promoting independence. This new home is in the same mould and I am delighted to be associated with their second development in Richmond. The homes are established with very high standards of care and an obvious loving attention of human dimension, which you have here. This is a great uplifting and positive reflection of everyone concerned''

Mike Bielanski, the Managing Director of London Care Partnership added, "As a local company we are pleased to be offering services to local vulnerable people that may have ordinarily had to live outside of London. We are very proud that we are providing services to half of all London Boroughs. This is because they value our service and ethos''.