New life is being breathed into the former Job Centre on Dereham's High Street as new head office for a healthcare provider, potentially bringing jobs to the town.

Eastern Daily Press: Jeesal Akman Services are moving their head office to the former Job Centre building in DerehamJeesal Akman Services are moving their head office to the former Job Centre building in Dereham (Image: Archant)

The Jeesal Group, an award-winning independent specialist care service for people with developmental disabilities and mental health issues, is moving all its centralised services to Dereham from Cawston, near Reepham, and is completing an extensive refurbishment of the building which has lain empty for over a year.

The group is made up of three separate businesses - Jeesal Akman Care Corporation (JACC), Jeesal Residential Care Services (JRCS) and Jeesal Akman Services (JAS) - and it could offer a number of new jobs for local people.

It will be the main office for the finance, IT and human resources departments as well as a base for its director of business development, HR & communications and the CEO.

The business is registered with the Care Quality Commission and has been supporting people with complex needs for over 30 years.

Eastern Daily Press: Dereham Job Centre Plus used to be on the High Street before it moved to the Breckland Council offices.Dereham Job Centre Plus used to be on the High Street before it moved to the Breckland Council offices. (Image: Archant)

It provides a full cycle of care including residential care, supported living, day care and respite care, and assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services.

Its HR manager Perry Hamilton said they hoped to be open in the week beginning June 19.

He said: 'The move has positioned us to identify new customers with whom we can engage and provide these services externally to grow our business.

'We chose Dereham in part because of the location and because of the building, which provided an opportunity to acquire a good size premises that has now been refurbished to a high standard, allowing us to present a modern, well-maintained head office location for staff and visitors alike.

'However, it hasn't all been plain sailing; we suffered a power outage on our first day on site which lasted most of the day!'

There are currently 21 employees who will be based in Dereham but Mr Hamilton said the HR department and in-house employment agency were always recruiting and looking for support workers for business locations around Norfolk.

'Once we get our reception area installed and we open our doors, we welcome walk-in queries from potential candidates,' he said.