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Highland Council targets date to bring respite service back to Thurso’s Thor House





Overnight respite for families with children with learning disabilities is set to be reinstated at Thurso’s Thor House by the summer.

Highland Council confirmed the timescale in a move which has been welcomed by community representatives who have been battling to have the service restored.

Thor House in Thurso is set to resume respite services later this year.
Thor House in Thurso is set to resume respite services later this year.

Families had used the four-bedroom, purpose-built unit in Provost Cormack Drive up until 2021 when the service was suspended pending a review.

It has since been converted for use as a temporary home for looked-after children.

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Thurso Community Council has been spearheading calls to bring back the respite service and has accused the local authority of keeping it in the dark about the reasons for the prolonged suspension.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the community council, vice chairperson Billy Sinclair said questions it raised three years ago remain unanswered.

“When we have asked questions why it closed in the first place, there have been some answers but none of them hold any water at all.”

He said far north MSP Marie Todd was the latest to raise the issue at a meeting in December with the council’s chief social work officer Fiona Duncan.

Mr Sinclair said: “It looks like we’re never going to get the answers on this.”

On the bright side, he welcomed the forthcoming reinstatement of the service. “It’s good news that Thor House is going to reopen for respite,” he said.

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It is understood alternative accommodation has been found for the youngsters who have been living there.

The council has also had to re-register the respite service with the Care Inspectorate.

A council spokesperson said: “We are working towards re-establishing a short break (respite) service in Caithness for children who have a disability. Work is progressing well; we hope for a late spring or early summer re-establishment of service.”


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