Former school to be turned into centre for youth services

Millions of pounds are being spent on the project at the old

Kimberworth Comprehensive School site.

Current work should be finished in time for it to open in January next year as the new integrated children's services campus.

Overall costs for the scheme are expected to be 2.9m and the centre is the result of a partnership between the local authority and NHS Rotherham.

A range of services that will be available include:

n Learning Disability Services including Hearing Impaired Team, Visually Impaired Team, Autism Communication Team and the Special Education Needs Team

n Physiotherapy, occupational therapists, speech and language therapist services

n A new Disability Short Break Facility

n Community Children's Complex Health Care Nursing Service

n Looked After Children, Fostering and Adoption services;

n Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

n School Effectiveness Service.

It will also provide a base for community workers who provide those services, who will be housed in new office space.

The chairman of Rotherham Children's Board, Coun Shaun Wright, said: "Bringing services together under one roof means the care and support that children and young people receive will continue to improve and develop.

"This investment also means that professionals can work together in the same location to provide a high quality seamless service."

The chairman of NHS Rotherham, Alan Tolhurst, said: "NHS Rotherham is committed to improving the health and well being of all children and young people in the Rotherham area.

"Through co-locating services with key partners from the council and voluntary sector, we believe that this development will offer new opportunities for joint working and service delivery.

"Once open the facility will create an environment from which children, young people and their families can expect the highest level of service."