The Dirrans Centre in Kilwinning which provides rehabilitative support to individuals with physical disability, brain injury, neurological and long term conditions has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Gold award.

The IIP standard is a nationally recognised benchmark for good practice in achieving business success through people.

It is awarded to well-run public and private sector organisations which demonstrate good management practice with high emphasis on best practice, people management and personal development.

The award places the Dirrans Centre among an elite handful of IIP holders who have reached the gold standard – only seven percent of IIP recognised organisations in the UK have achieved this top status.

North Ayrshire Council Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Anthea Dickson, said: “Providing an excellent support service means being there for people when it matters.   “This is something the Council works tirelessly to achieve – particularly the team at the Dirrans Centre who help to ensure people’s needs are at the focal point of their service delivery.

“I am thrilled that the efforts of the Dirrans Centre team are being recognised through this prestigious national benchmark.

"It goes a long way towards showing the standard of support they provide.” The current centre will be replaced in January 2015 with a new £1.4 million ‘Dirrans Resource Centre’ which boasts state of the art facilities - allowing the service to build upon its excellent Care Inspectorate grades and maintain its IIP gold benchmark.

As part of the disability service, the new Dirrans development will provide a wide range of reablemeant and rehabilitation services to the people of North Ayrshire.

Investors in People Assessor, Sheila Anderson, said: “I am delighted the Dirrans Centre team have achieved Investors in People Gold accreditation.  It is an impressive achievement against a background of significant change.

“Managers have involved the whole team in designing their new centre and in developing new ways of working within Social Care and Health.  They have created a high performing team who achieve exceptional performance for the benefit of North Ayrshire.”