South Manchester based social care firm Zeno is today celebrating as it reaches 150 employees and commences restoration on a local heritage landmark in Wythenshawe to provide a much needed care facility.
The company founded and run by two friends from Urmston, Peter Cammack and Andrew Milne, was launched in 2005. With the help of a small grant from the Small Firms Loan guarantee scheme, they were able to put down a small deposit on their first supported living house, which has now grown to a network of 10 houses across south Manchester.
Zeno, which provides care for vulnerable adults with learning disabilities, has seen demand increase massively across the North West as the NHS transforming care agenda tries to move people out of hospitals and in to the community.
Andy said “Providing care for adults with a learning disability in the community is not just the right solution for these individuals and enables them to live at home and have a rewarding life, but it’s also the most cost effective for the local authority and the NHS, reducing costs by between 30% – 50%, over an institutionalised care model.
“We have worked in partnership with Manchester for a number of years, and this collaboration and transparent working has led to reduced costs for the local authority, whilst helping them to be at the forefront of the transforming care agenda and providing secure homes and improved outcomes for this vulnerable community.
“Our biggest challenge is finding the right employees, to help us continue to grow and provide these vital services”
The business’ latest project, in partnership with Manchester city council and the community of Wythenshawe, is the restoration of Newall Green Farm. One of the borough’s landmark buildings, it was devastated by a fire in 2014, but restoration work has commenced to turn it into Manchester’s first “Safe space” transition environment.
The facility which will be ready for occupation in the summer of 2017 will stop individuals in Manchester who have a learning disability from being placed into hospital when in crisis.
Andy goes on to say “This facility will enable the supported person to spend the shortest period of time in this intensive setting, and move on to a supported living setting or back to their family home, without the need for the NHS to be involved”.
