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Orkney Health and Care has awarded a contract to build the new joint health and social care facility in St Margaret’s Hope to Global Construction of Muir of Ord.

The facility which will provide 14 ‘extra care’ tenancies - housing with access to 24 hour personal and social care - will be built over the coming year.

Six of the lodgings will be connected to a ‘core’ building containing a staff base, kitchen and shared social areas for use by tenants. All lodgings will be connected to the core building by a call system.

One of the tenancies will be earmarked to provide local respite care.

Chair of Orkney Health and Care, Russ Madge, said: “This new facility represents a major step towards helping people with care and respite needs to live independently in their community with the individual support they need.

“The design has drawn on expertise from health and social care professionals in Orkney and across Scotland, and is a great example of how Orkney Health and Care can deliver joined-up well-designed services for the people of Orkney.”

“I look forward to seeing the facility take shape in coming months.”

The project brings together expertise from health, social care, development, environment and housing services in Orkney. Expertise and advice from the Dementia Services Development Centre in Stirling aided the development of the design.

Extra care housing is becoming an increasingly accepted model throughout Scotland for providing care which meets individuals’ needs while still enabling an independent lifestyle.

Combined with a range of telecare options, extra care housing gives increased choice to older people with personal and social care needs to continue to live independently.

Construction will start on the 19th of August, with the project expected to be completed in October 2011