Brighton & Hove City Council has commissioned 47 units of supported accommodation, supported living and residential accommodation in the city to support residents with mental health needs, ensuring they receive tailored care without needing to relocate.
The newly set up support consists of self-contained flats, en-suite accommodation with communal areas and beds in residential care facilities. Following a tender and a careful evaluation process, the council also introduced a new approved list of providers delivering care to residents with mental health needs, learning disabilities, physical health needs, autism, high substance use and acquired brain injuries. Working with Brighton YMCA, the council introduced a new Mental Health Medium Supported Accommodation scheme consisting of 11 units of self-contained accommodation. The service will be staffed by support workers, aiding with mental health recovery, linking people into external services, helping them access volunteering and training, and develop skills for independent living. Through the approved provider list, the council has also worked with support providers to develop new supported living services. These include:
These schemes all offer 24-hour onsite staff with a programme of support personalised to each individual’s needs, this can include help with cooking, managing finances, accessing community activities and psychological interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing. In addition, the council has increased the number of mental health beds in care and nursing homes:
Councillor Tristram Burden, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Service Transformation, said: “Expanding the numbers of mental health provision in our city is essential to meet the mental health needs of our residents and ensure they are seen, listened to and supported in our city. “Being in a safe and secure housing situation as well as being able to access long-term, tailored support is absolutely vital for mental wellness and recovery. “Increasing mental health support has been a key priority for me as lead member for adult services, and I’m really pleased to report our progress in this area, helping to mitigate the twin challenges of increasing demand and unmet meet for mental health support and accommodation. “I’m grateful to our partners for working with us and allowing our residents to access mental health support without needing to worry about housing or having to relocate in search of quality care.” |