Hft trustees have confirmed it will move all residents of Rivendell, Chudleigh, into supported living.

Currently 30 residents, who have learning difficulties, live on the campus-style site.

Trustees made the decision to change from registered care to supported living following a consultation of Rivendell services. It involved the people it supports, their families and the staff who work there.

It has also found that in recent years the service at Rivendell isn't financially viable.

Hft – formerly the Home Farm Trust – now plans to find accommodation in the area for all those living at Rivendell, so they have more independence and can live in smaller numbers.

'In the past 20 years, the provision of services for people with learning disabilities has changed and research evidence has shown that people benefit from smaller services embedded into welcoming local communities with more focused staffing,' said Jacqui Gwilliam, director of communications.

'The government's policy to provide care for people with learning disabilities through supported living rather than registered care is a permanent change and Hft has endorsed this as our general policy with the aim of reversing our proportion of registered care (from 65 per cent to 35 per cent) and supported living (from 35 per cent to 65 per cent) in the next few years.'

The review was considered in detail at a meeting of Hft's trustees on Saturday.

'It has clearly shown that the people we support want to live in smaller settings and this has been a major factor in our decision to move,' said Hilary Crowhurst, director of operations at Hft.

'Moving out to supported living will enable individuals to live in friendship groupings of their own choice within the community and in accommodation which will remain accessible as people age so people won't have to move again.'

It was also noted by trustees that Rivendell is a traditional type of service which is no longer considered best practice and is not being supported by local authorities.

'As a result, in the past few years, the number of vacancies on the Rivendell site has grown,' added Mrs Crowhurst.

'People have gradually left; most to live in smaller services nearer their families and many younger families who have visited the site have said they want smaller services which are less isolated.

'We currently have nine vacancies on site which means the service has become financially unsustainable.

'Rivendell has current planning permission for residential institutional use and we would envisage a similar sympathetic future use for this site.'

Hft has consulted with Rivendell relatives and friends and will tend to the individual's specific needs.

'Our primary concern is for the people we support and their welfare is our main priority at all times,' added Mrs Crowhurst.

It is thought that moving the residents will be a lengthy process and once the site is clear, it will be sold for similar use.