We're holding two drop-in sessions to give the community an opportunity to have their say on options for a new care village development for the central Borders to be located in Tweedbank.
Plans to develop the facility were agreed as part of the Council budget approved on 19 March 2022. A separate project will see a similar solution provided in Hawick, with more than £22.5m of capital allocated to cover the cost of the two Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership developments.
Working with National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi), the aim for the sessions is to capture the views and ideas of local residents and other stakeholders to gain their views on how the community can integrate with the care village.
The feedback will also help to develop the full business case for the project, due to be presented to both the Council and Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board in 2023.
Drop in sessions in Tweedbank and Galashiels
The drop in sessions will be available as follows:
- Monday 24 October; 10-2pm; Community Centre, Essenside Drive, Tweedbank
- Thursday 27 October; 10-2pm; Cafe Recharge, 58 Island St, Galashiels
There is no need to book, but if you have queries, please email: ResidentialCareProgramme@scotborders.gov.uk. You can also email us if you're unable to attend but would like more information.
As the plans will include the transfer of services currently provided at Waverley (Galashiels) and Garden View (Tweedbank) residential care facilities, additional engagement is being held with staff, residents, family carers and other relevant stakeholders.
Councillor David Parker, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing
“To ensure we continue to provide high quality care for our older residents and keep up with the anticipated increase in demand for health and social care services, we have committed to delivering two new care villages in the Borders over the next four years, including the one to be located in Tweedbank.
“These drop in sessions are a chance not only for people find out more about the proposals, but also to give us your views on how the local community could support and integrate with the care village.
“We want to hear from you as to what you might like to see in the development whether that’s a shop, café or some other facility. There will be some outline architects drawings available that will give you an idea of what it could look like but it’s really your views that we want to hear at this stage. I would therefore encourage everyone with an interest to make sure they come along and have their say.”
More information
- More information about both the Tweedbank and Hawick developments generally is available on the care village programme pages of our website.
- The intention is that the developments will provide an innovative new model of residential care, designed specifically to better support the changing needs of older people alongside providing high-quality care and support through proactive early intervention and preventative action aimed at those with complex needs, frailty and dementia.
- The concept of the care village model supports unique needs, lifestyles and personal preferences for living, care and well-being for people living mainly with dementia and frailty. The focus is on possibility rather than disability and will be supported by 24-hour care, delivered by trained professionals.
- The report and outline business case for the Hawick development were recently approved by the Integration Joint Board (21 September) and Council (29 September).
- Information will also be available at the Tweedbank session on proposals to create a Neighbourhood Centre as part of plans for the future expansion of the area generally, as outlined in the supplementary planning guidance and design guide entitled ‘Tweedbank – Vision for Growth and Sustainability, A Community for the Future’ approved at Council in June 2021. A separate news story is available providing more information about these plans.