Francis House Family Trust, a registered charity that operates Francis House Children’s Hospice, celebrates the first year of operation for their groundbreaking care home, Number 92. This care home, located in Heaton Moor, Stockport, provides a supportive living environment for young people with life-limiting conditions and complex needs.
The care home, operated by Francis House Families Ltd, a trading subsidiary of Francis House Family Trust, is currently home to six young people who were previously cared for full-time by their parents. The facility offers a domestic setting while providing 24/7 care from a highly trained staff.
Dermot Murphy, the Registered Manager of Number 92, is passionate about pioneering initiatives in social care and constantly strives to improve and develop services. Murphy states, “It’s been a remarkable achievement to get Number 92 fully staffed and all the young people in. It’s a tremendously difficult transition for a young person to leave home where they have lived all their lives and move to be cared for by other people. We have received an awful lot of trust from the parents, and we are enormously grateful for that.”
The transition for the young people has been a challenging one, but the staff at Number 92 have made it their priority to get to know each individual and their unique needs. This has allowed for the young people to blossom and develop their personalities in a safe and supportive environment. Parents have also been able to take up new opportunities that were not available to them before, as they are no longer acting as full-time caregivers.
Fiona Ferguson, whose 20-year-old daughter Elizabeth moved into Number 92 in April 2023, shares her experience. “I was very hands on in the early days,” says Fiona. “It’s been nice that I’ve been able to take a big step back now. It didn’t take long for me to feel comfortable and relaxed enough to not have to think about Elizabeth’s care.” She adds, “It’s been a new experience for both Elizabeth and I, and she is getting to do things that I would never have dreamt of doing with her and she loves it. She’s living like a 20-year-old should, rather than with me.”
The care home operates on an open door policy for parents to visit anytime, get involved, or simply have a chat and a cup of tea with the staff. The team of 23 staff members, led by Clinical Lead Angela Doyle, provides round-the-clock care for the young residents.
Angela says, “It’s going really well and from the parents’ perspective, they are starting to see a different side of their loved ones that they probably wouldn’t have seen before from a social engagement point of view.” She also shares how the young residents have been welcomed into the community, taking trips to a local pub for karaoke and receiving services from the local barbers and beauty salon.
The needs of the residents at Number 92 are complex and unique, and the staff work closely with colleges, local authorities, and other organizations to provide the best care possible. The care home is funded by the individual residents’ Local Authority Care Budget, and they also have the option to continue receiving respite care and symptom control at Francis House Children’s Hospice.
This groundbreaking care home has made a significant impact on the lives of the young residents and their families. With the dedication and passion of the staff, Number 92 continues to provide a safe and supportive living environment for these young individuals.
