High hopes for Dinnington residential centre

Kelly Strouther (31) has been named as the manager of the new Anston Brook House.

Anston Brook House will be Horizon Care’s first residential transitional service for adults with learning disabilities when it opens next month.

Kelly, who is married with three children, has been working in the social care sector for 12 years, beginning her career as a support worker in an Autism Specialist Service.

She worked her way up to senior support work and then took on management roles including being registered manager of a residential service for eight male adults with learning disabilities, autism and challenging behaviour in a large private organisation.

Kelly said: “I am so excited about managing Horizon’s first residential transitional service for adults with learning disabilities.

“For the past 18 months I have been working for an organisation specifically dealing with individuals in supported living settings and managing multiple services in the East Midlands. To be involved in the whole process of setting up this centre is fantastic.

“Our aim is to support and enable individuals to access the mainstream of life as much or as little as they choose. We will offer tailor made packages to enable individuals of all ages and abilities to live in their own home.

“This is as a first step towards supporting people to eventually access Supported Living with the aim of individuals remaining in the scheme for as long as they require before moving into lower intensity supported settings.

“Roles like this are few and far between and I already know that at Anston Brook House we will be making a real, positive impact on people’s lives.”

Staff at Anston Brook House will support people to focus on setting their own pace when making important life decisions about managing personal care and health and also accessing the community, leisure activities, education, supported employment and life long learning.  

The service will also offer a much-needed respite calendar which is already available for bookings.

Laura Higginbottom, managing director of Horizon Care Homes, said: “Kelly brings a wealth of experience with her and we are delighted to welcome her to the Horizon family.

“Anston Brook House is a flagship centre for us and we need the best possible team in place to assist adults with learning difficulties transition towards a more independent life.

“We are looking forward to opening this centre in the near future and welcoming our first residents through the doors.”