A FORMER NHS day centre has been transformed in to a facility to help people with autism and learning disabilities.

Mulfords Hill Centre, in Mulfords Hill, Tadley, has been transformed in to six self-contained apartments designed for people with learning difficulties with Liaise Loddon Ltd managing the service.

The building has been undergoing significant renovation work since summer last year and along with the apartments now contains a communal kitchen and dining room along with a staff room

A competition was held amongst the co-workers at Liaise Loddon to name the new home and the winner, Albertinah Malambo, was chosen by the chair of directors, Marion Cornick MBE and area manager, Paul Smithson.

The name that Albertinah suggested for the home is Karibu Place - Karibu being Swahili for ‘welcome’.

Mr Smithson said: “With Karibu Place we have sought to design and build an outstanding environment to assist the people we support to have the best quality of life possible.

"The feedback received from parents of people with learning difficulties and autism that have viewed the home has been incredibly positive which has really reassured us that we are on the right track.”

With Karibu Place’s opening, Liaise Loddon will expand the total number of people it supports from 43 to 49.

This will mean Liaise Loddon will also increase the number of people it employs to around 280 across Basingstoke and Romsey. Most of these are skilled support workers and specialists in supporting people with learning disabilities and autism.

Last year, Liaise Loddon Ltd excelled in its Care Quality Commission inspections with three of its now 11 homes receiving ratings placing them in the top six per cent of homes in the country.