Waverley House offers bespoke accommodation for young people aged 18 to 25 who have high care and support needs enabling them to live as independently as possible while ensuring they are part of their local community.
A former care home has been transformed into 6 self-contained living spaces that provide a safe, supportive environment where young people can develop the life skills necessary to thrive.
It also provides more local, high-quality living arrangements in Derbyshire that promote inclusion, independence and choice, reducing the need for young people to be placed outside the county.
It has been made possible thanks to a collaboration between us and the care company, which has redesigned the building to create individual living spaces with kitchen areas, living room, bedroom with en-suite wet room and private gardens.
And young people and their families have been at the heart of the process, being actively involved in the design of the accommodation to meet their individual needs. This not only ensures a smooth transition but also reinforces the importance of personalisation, with each young person’s preferences and aspirations being prioritised.
Previously, some of the young adults were accommodated and cared for outside Derbyshire, making it harder for families and friends to remain involved. This new development offers the opportunity for young people to stay connected to their local support networks, creating a positive environment for growth and independence.
Our Cabinet Member for Adult Care Councillor Joss Barnes said:
“By creating proactive relationships we’re able to increase local investment in services to build the right support for young people with high care and support needs as they transition to adulthood.
“It means they are able to move from mental health in-patient care, which is costly and often outside of the county, in to bespoke community placements to ensure they can be supported to lead their best life.
“This is just part of a range of new provision that we are creating across Derbyshire that will support the current demand for adult social care support for people with a learning disability and autism but also prepare us for the future.”
Waverley House will be staffed 24/7 by a highly skilled, multi-disciplinary team with specialist training in key principles and practices. Each resident will have a personalised care and support plan to ensure their unique needs are met, and they receive the tailored support required to thrive.
Godfrey Care Operations Director, Tracy Johnson, said:
“Derbyshire County Council and Godfrey Care had a shared vision of Waverley House as an opportunity for genuine co-production between all parties involved in the provision of care.
“The most important input came from the individuals’ families who were at the heart of the service’s planning and development, empowered as a leading voice shaping its design and specification. Godfrey Care are passionate advocates of this approach in the planning, design and development of care services.
“The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. One family described it as a privilege to have had a say in shaping the service. Godfrey Care believe that families having such a voice should never be a privilege - it should be the standard. The success of this project sets a powerful precedent for what is possible when complex transitions are approached with compassion, collaboration, and creativity.”
Angela, whose son is planning his move into the new accommodation, said:
“As parents we were really impressed with how both care providers worked together to provide good practice and routine for our son’s personal behaviour and support plan.
“His choices, wants, needs and preferences were considered at every opportunity. As a family we are so grateful and impressed with how individual service providers have worked so well together. We feel privileged to be a part of the end product.”
It is one of 6 facilities being created in collaboration with the private sector to create purpose-built accommodation to support 24 young people with a learning disability and autism across Derbyshire.
This development is a key part of our commitment to the Council Plan (2025-29), which focuses on empowering communities and ensuring that people live safe, happy, healthy, and independent lives.