Building work to renovate a derelict care home building into a residential drug rehabilitation centre in North Ayrshire is now underway.
Construction workers were spotted at the site of the former Seabank care home in Canal Street, Saltcoats last week.
The new national specialist residential family service will be operated by charity and housing association Phoenix Futures and help people with drug and alcohol addiction detox.
Proposals for the rehab centre were announced last year as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the rising drug deaths crisis.
At the time, residents were not consulted on the proposal as the building already had permission to operate as care home.
A spokesperson from North Ayrshire Council said: "The Scottish Government announced funding on August 3, 2021 to establish a new residential rehabilitation facility to support families affected by drug use in North Ayrshire.
“Representatives of North Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire health and social care partnership (HSCP), the Scottish Government and Phoenix Futures met last October for initial discussions on proposals and the service being based in Saltcoats.
"Since this initial meeting, HSCP has been working closely and collaboratively with Phoenix Futures to scope out referral pathways and the potential impact and support that can be provided by local services.
“The HSCP wants to ensure that this new, national development will positively meet the needs of individuals in North Ayrshire; therefore, a wide range of professional groups have been engaged in planning discussions, including our addictions, mental health, children and families, housing, education and adult/child protection services, as well as our primary care and pharmacy teams.
“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Phoenix Futures to ensure the new service will become a valuable source of support for families affected by substance misuse not just in North Ayrshire, but from across the country.”
A spokesperson for Phoenix Futures added: “Work on finishing preparing the new national specialist family service in Saltcoats, in partnership with the Scottish Government, is due to be completed in September.
"Our unique, family-focused service will support 20 families affected by a parent’s drug and alcohol problems to remain together.
"We have been liaising closely with the local community, the local authority and the HSCP and will continue to do so.”
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