The service is currently based at Gilda Crescent in Polegate and consists of eight beds.
The service also enables people to be admitted directly from the community, reducing the numbers of people who might otherwise be admitted to hospital.
This helps to ease pressure on hospital beds and reduce the number of delayed transfers of care (so-called ‘bed-blocking’).
The beds are jointly funded by the Adult Social Care department of East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Downs & Weald Primary Care Trust (PCT).
“This is an excellent example of positive joint working between adult social care and the local health service,” says Councillor Bill Bentley, lead cabinet member for Adult Social Care.
Health and social care services at Gilda Crescent are integrated with the PCT providing nursing and therapy staff to work alongside those employed by adult social care.
"The new service at Gilda Crescent is part of our wider programme and plans to work with partners to develop better and more convenient services in the community, close to or in people's homes," says Alice Webster, interim director of operations for East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT.
Dedicated support is also available to assist individuals and their families with longer term planning and decision making as to how their on going needs might best be met.
Notes to editors
The services offered at Gilda Crescent in Polegate were reviewed by East Sussex County Council and following the review, a decision was made by Cabinet in January 2006 to develop the service now operating.
A further review of Gilda Crescent will start in April as part of the wider review of all directly provided services run by Adult Social Care.
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