Belses Gardens is a small modern development designed to provide integrated accommodation and care services for nineteen people with physical disabilities. Opened in 1996, all the properties on the scheme have been built to full wheelchair standards. Belses Gardens is situated just off the M8 motorway in a residential area of Cardonald and four miles from Glasgow city centre. The development is close to accessible local shops, health centres and both primary and secondary schools. The Southern General Hospital is less than a mile away. Prospective residents should be aged between 18 and 64. We ask that they make their own informed decision about accepting a tenancy or resident occupancy agreement and be motivated and committed to living as independently as possible. In return, we provide a high level of flexible assistance by professionally trained staff. This is available on a 24-hour basis.

Supported Accommodation Unit. Belses Gardens offers two types of accommodation. In the Supported Accommodation Unit there are twelve Unit studio apartments and one fully self-contained flat.

Main House. The apartments each comprise a bedsitting room with en-suite toilet and shower facilities. The flat has a double bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom. All feature double-glazing and central heating. Accommodation is fully furnished but people can provide their own furniture if they prefer. Residents can install their own telephones. Automatic door openers and other adaptations can be provided to suit individual needs.

The Unit itself is all on a single level for easy access and offers a range of facilities. Meals are served in the main dining room. There are two residents' lounges, both of which have kitchen facilities where residents can prepare meals, snacks, teas and coffees for themselves if they wish. Where possible, staff are available to offer assistance as required. There is also a recreation room, a fully equipped laundry and wheelchair charging rooms. Guest bedrooms are available for visitors of both residents and tenants staying overnight or for a few days and can be booked for a nominal cost.

The Supported Accommodation Unit is designed and managed to allow residents privacy and choice within a secure and supportive environment. Staff work with residents to enable independent living and, where the residents decide, to help them to move on to a more independent lifestyle in their own home.

Social Work The Supported Accommodation Unit is registered to Department to provide residential care services.

Supported Housing. The scheme also has supported housing on site. These houses are not registered and tenants are eligible for Housing Benefit. The support services are funded by the Social Work Department and tenants may be asked to contribute to the charges. There are three one-bedroom bungalows and three two-bedroom bungalows in which tenants can live with their families. Also built to full wheelchair standards, the bungalows have level access to all rooms and generous circulation space in which to manoeuvre.

The kitchens and bathrooms have been designed to suit the needs of the principal user; there are low windowsills, kick plates on the doors, and easy-reach switches and plugs. Special adaptations can include wet-floor bathrooms and track & hoist systems. Central heating, double glazing, a powered wheelchair charging point, a smoke detection system, and a call system for contacting support staff are all standard features.

Tenants of the supported houses can, for a reasonable cost, take their meals in the dining room of the main house although all other facilities in the Unit are private and for the use of residents only.

Housekeeping. As well as cleaning all the communal areas within the Supported Accommodation Unit, the domestic staff provide a home help service to tenants.

Caring for Residents. As well as having the security of 24-hour care from a professionally trained team on hand, the residents in the keyworker system Margaret Blackwood supported accommodation can depend on the familiar and friendly help that comes from our "keyworker" system. Residents each have a member of staff with whom they can discuss their particular needs. This keyworker, in co-ordination with other staff, helps to support the resident work towards his or her personal goals. Residents and key workers also develop support plans that are detailed programmes of care and support specifically tailored to meet individual needs.

Personal choice. We encourage residents to participate as much as the democratic approach possible in the running of the scheme. There are regular meetings where people can raise issues and ideas and be involved in any decisions that need to be made. A member of the staff team attends to give assistance and ensure that the decisions taken carry through into action. Training in interview techniques is available in order that residents can participate in recruiting new staff.

Maintenance. A handyman is available between 9am and Ipm on weekdays to carry out minor repairs and offer advice to both residents and tenants. At other times, defects are reported to the Duty Manager, who will arrange emergency repairs if required.

Transport. We have our own minibus suitable for people in wheelchairs. Local taxi firms also have vehicles adapted to accommodate wheelchair users. There is a good local bus service and bus stops are close by.